Shannon Jr. proved he can be more during the playoffs.
The Minnesota Timberwolves finished 49-33 this season and made it to the Western Conference semifinals before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.
The season came with plenty of injuries and bumps along the way, but one of the best developments was the playoff breakout of second-year wing Terrence Shannon Jr., who proved he can be much more than a rotational piece.
Head coach Chris Finch is ready to move forward with that in mind.
Appearing on Paul Allen's Nine to Noon show, Finch talked about what Shannon's postseason run revealed about his future with the team.
"We figured out now exactly how to deploy him," Finch said. "We think he can coincide alongside Ant as the primary ball handler."
Shannon Came Alive in the Playoffs
That confidence stands out given how up and down Shannon's regular season was.
He averaged 5.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game across 43 appearances, spending long stretches out of the rotation through injuries and coaching decisions.
There were extended windows of DNPs from late December through mid-February where he barely saw the court.
Everything flipped during the first round against Denver, though.
After Anthony Edwards went down with a hyperextended knee and bone bruise in Game 4, Shannon got thrust into the spotlight and responded in a real way.
He scored 24 points with six rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes during the series-closing Game 6, earning his first career playoff start.
He stayed hot against San Antonio, putting up 16 points in the Game 1 upset and pouring in 21 during the elimination Game 6.
Over his three playoff starts, Shannon averaged 17.3 points per game and showed he could create off the dribble in ways the Timberwolves had not given him space to during the regular season.
Finch called himself out after the Nuggets series for keeping Shannon stationed in the corner most of the year rather than letting him run the offense with the ball in his hands.
What This Means Going Forward
If Finch follows through, Shannon's role next season should look nothing like what it was this year.
Pairing him alongside Edwards as a second ball handler would give Minnesota an athletic backcourt that can push the pace and attack the rim, something the Timberwolves badly needed when their offense stalled against the Spurs' switch-heavy defense in the second round.
Edwards put up a career-best 28.8 points along with 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 48.9 percent shooting in 61 games this season, but the Timberwolves still need more offensive creation around him heading into next year.
Mike Conley will turn 39 before the 2026-27 season tips off, Ayo Dosunmu is heading into free agency and Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles during the Denver series.
That leaves a real opening in the backcourt, and Finch's comments suggest Shannon is part of the long-term answer rather than a reserve waiting for his name to get called.
