NBA Trade Rumors: TJ Shannon’s Best Role is as a Trade Piece

So much of the coming season is uncertain for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They restructured their whole core and brought in a new star point guard in LaMelo Ball, and jettisoned cornerstones of the team’s past identity in Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley Jr. They even switched owners.

Within that restructuring, there are many new roles being created for different players. It seems like only Anthony Edwards will slot back in where he was last year.

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Jaden McDaniels will suddenly be a featured shot creator. Jaylen Clark will be expected to be a rotation piece. And notably, Joan Beringer will have to make good on his potential, considering he is basically the only remaining piece of the return for Karl-Anthony Towns.

However, hidden in all of this is a recent first-round pick that the Timberwolves will have to work with more closely and with more finesse.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 12: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 reacts as Joe Ingles #7 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Target Center on April 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Pelicans 132-126. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

T.J. Shannon Jr. came out of Illinois as a terror in transition. Since he entered the league, Shannon has struggled to find regular rotation minutes, despite his clear strengths in one of the most important single skills in the league: attacking the basket.

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This difficulty comes largely from how he does what he is so good at on paper. Shannon requires the ball in his hands nearly at all times to be effective. After an exciting rookie season in which he was the X-factor against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Shannon found himself out of the rotation as a sophomore player.

Part of this has to do with his injury history, but the larger reason is that he simply could not fit into a team that had so many…

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Publish date : 2026-09-23 12:00:00

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