Timberwolves sign first-round pick to rookie deal

The Timberwolves have officially signed first-round pick Joan Beringer to his rookie scale contract, according to a press release from the team.

One of the top international players in this year’s draft class, Beringer played this past season for Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia, where he averaged 4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game in 30 outings in the ABA League.

The young Frenchman, who will turn 19 in November, has only played basketball for four years and is still learning the game, notes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, who adds that Beringer possesses “outstanding” physical tools, including the coveted combination of defensive mobility and rim-protecting ability.

Timberwolves general manger Matt Lloyd told reporters after June’s draft that several team officials became convinced that Beringer was a perfect fit for the franchise after watching him work out and meeting with him in Chicago during the pre-draft process. Minnesota just wasn’t sure if he would still be available at No. 17 overall.

“Joan is one of those rare cases where the best player available also had a fit,” Lloyd said. “And we were sweating it. … It was a long night of waiting.”

As our breakdown of rookie scale salaries shows, assuming Beringer assumes the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale, which is likely, his deal will be worth about $20.3M over four years, including $4.2M in year one. The first two seasons are guaranteed, followed by team options in years three and four.