Wolves fans will get their first look at the team’s young stars when Minnesota kicks off the Las Vegas Summer League against the New Orleans Pelicans. All eyes will be on players Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark, who are set to play meaningful roles for the Wolves this coming season.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Date: July 10th, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM CDT
Location: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Television Coverage: ESPN2/FanDuel Sports Network North
The Timberwolves Are Back (Sort Of), and Summer League Has Never Looked Better
It feels like we were just watching the Wolves collapse in Game 5 at Paycom Center, letting the Thunder run circles around an overmatched Minnesota squad. You could almost hear the collective groan from Timberwolves fans everywhere: “So… that’s how it ends?”
And yet, here we are. About six weeks later. The fireworks have gone off, the free agent dust is settling, and the Timberwolves are ready to take the court again, albeit in Las Vegas, in a gym where half the crowd is wearing Lakers jerseys, the other half is scouting their fantasy team’s 13th man, and the air smells vaguely like a $19 daiquiri.
That’s right: it’s Summer League time.
No, we won’t get to see Anthony Edwards launching threes or Julius Randle spinning into double teams. But don’t let the absence of star power fool you—this year’s Timberwolves Summer League roster might just have more intrigue than most Vegas tables.
Minnesota opens their Summer League slate at 2:30 p.m. CT against the Pelicans. No Zion. No Ant. Just vibes. But if you’re a Wolves fan—and let’s face it, if you’re reading Summer League previews in early July, you absolutely are—there’s plenty to sink your teeth into.
Let’s take a look at what actually matters in this game and what might give us some clues about the upcoming season.
1. Terrence Shannon Jr.
Let’s start with the grown man in the room. TSJ is the oldest guy on the Wolves’ Summer League roster. After a strong close down the stretch last season—including that delicious 25-point comeback against the Thunder in February—Shannon has arrived.
He plays downhill, attacks the rim like it owes him money, and doesn’t shy away from big moments. TSJ is the kind of guy with the potential to light up the box score in Vegas. He’s going to make life miserable for some poor undrafted guard just trying to get through his first NBA action.
And don’t be surprised if he starts the real season in October playing 15–20 minutes a night. The Wolves need his aggression—especially with NAW gone. Speaking of…
2. Rob Dillingham
Look, I love Rob’s upside. He’s electric. He’s a blur. His handle is nasty, and his floater has potential. But he’s also very much a work in progress. There were moments last year when he looked like he could be the next Jalen Brunson… and then there were moments when he looked like he was trying to dribble through a hurricane with oven mitts on.
The Wolves desperately need a reliable backup point guard. Mike Conley is 37 and can’t be expected to log 36+ minutes per night for 82 games. Rob has to take a leap. Summer League isn’t everything, but for Dillingham, it’s reps, rhythm, and proof that he can organize an offense—even if that offense is a bunch of future G-League guys and French teenagers trying to figure out defensive rotations.
Vegas is his sandbox. Let’s see what he builds.
3. Jaylen Clark
Here’s the thing about Jaylen Clark: he gets it.
After missing his rookie season with an Achilles tear, Clark showed up last year like a man on a mission. He defended like his life depended on it. He made just enough threes to stay on the floor. He gave the Wolves bench a jolt of energy every time he stepped on the court.
With NAW gone and opportunity opening at the 2 and 3 spots, Clark could easily be the guy who steps into that “glue guy off the bench who makes one massive defensive stop every night” role.
4. Introducing Joan Beringer
If you’re wondering who the extremely tall French guy on the Wolves bench is who looks like he got lost on his way to a FIBA U18 tournament, that’s Joan Beringer—the Wolves’ first-round pick and, let’s be honest, a bit of a mystery box.
Is he the next Rudy Gobert? Maybe. He’s long, he’s raw, and he’s got the kind of “defensive instincts” that scouts always describe when a guy averages 1.1 blocks with a 107.5 DRTG in EuroCup games.
He might not play much, and that’s okay. But even a few flashes—a weakside block, a nice vertical contest at the rim, a putback dunk—would be encouraging. And yes, he will inevitably get compared to Gobert after every possession. That’s life in Minnesota now.
Why This Matters
Let’s zoom out for a second. The Wolves are paying the luxury tax. They’re brushing up against the second apron. They just had to say goodbye to Nickeil Alexander-Walker—a fan favorite and important rotation piece—because they couldn’t afford him.
This is the new NBA. You have to hit on cheap young players. You have to develop talent internally. You can’t just buy depth anymore—not unless you want Adam Silver to come down on you like he’s conducting a salary cap sting operation.
So yeah, Summer League matters. Not in the “who wins the Vegas trophy” sense, but in the “can TSJ, Clark, and Dillingham turn into the kind of reliable bench mob that wins playoff games?” sense.
The Bottom Line
The Wolves didn’t make any splashy moves this summer. No KD trade. No star drama. Just continuity, player development, and a quiet belief that they’re this close. The core is set. The vets are locked in. The question now is whether the young guys can rise.
It starts today, against the Pelicans, with a bunch of kids trying to prove they belong. And for Wolves fans still emotionally recovering from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ending our season, it’s a welcome distraction.
Basketball is back. Sort of. Let’s roll.