It’s no secret that the Minnesota Timberwolves are in need of a point guard. Mike Conley is 38 and has been dismissed as a creator and an athlete. Many people were hoping that second-year guard Rob Dillingham could take on a bigger role so the team could rely less on Conley. Unfortunately, Dillingham’s preseason showed that he still needs more time to develop.
Dillingham posted respectable averages of 11.8 points, 6.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds on 45.3/47.1/62.5 shooting splits. However, if you remove a game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions, Dillingham’s averages drop to 8.8/6/1.6 on 38/30.7/50 shooting splits. Not great, Bob. Smaller guards typically take a long time to develop, and Dillingham appears to be no exception.
This puts the Wolves in a difficult situation. Do they play Dillingham real minutes, even if it probably costs them wins, or do they prioritize winning and hinder his development?
Rob Dillingham has a lot of upside, but he seems a long way from putting them together
Dillingham undoubtedly has the ideal skill set that the Wolves lack in their backcourt. The Kentucky product is a speedy guard who can generate and create rim pressure for his teammates. If there is one positive to take from Dillingham’s preseason, his playmaking has looked quite strong.
Still, Dillingham struggled to score efficiently, both at the rim and beyond the arc. At times it seemed like Dillingham was questioning himself, and he often missed good shots. Dillingham is unlikely to be able to score efficiently this season, especially if defenders can take advantage of his slight frame. No matter how good his play is, if Dillingham continues to struggle as a scorer, his impact will be far less effective, especially considering his size makes him a target on defense.
Remember, Dillingham was drafted as a lottery pick primarily because of his elite scoring and shot creation. Even though Dillingham’s play was impressive, it’s worth wondering if he can actually run an NBA offense. Maybe once the regular season starts, Dillingham can find his chance again.
Through the first 25 games of last season, Dillingham shot a stellar 44 percent from three-point range. However, in the last 23 games, he shot an abysmal 12.5 percent from beyond the arc. As he gets acclimated to the NBA, Dillingham will undoubtedly have to endure some inconsistent stretches. However, that could lead to Chris Finch taking him out of the rotation or only giving him a few minutes every now and then. That’s understandable given the Wolves’ championship aspirations.
Currently, Terrence Shannon Jr. appears to be to sit in the eighth spot of Minnesota’s rotation. That leaves Dillingham and Jaylen Clark battling for the opening minutes as the ninth man. As a top scorer, it’s harder for Dillingham to find rhythm in an inconsistent role. But the alternative for Finch and the Wolves is risking slipping in a competitive Western Conference.
With Dillingham likely only getting occasional minutes, the Wolves will have to rely more on Conley. Additionally, Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo will all handle playing duties. The Wolves were in dire need of a new lead ball handler, and they relied on Dillingham to fill the void.
The 20-year-old still has plenty of upside and could be Minnesota’s point guard of the future. I defended the Wolves’ approach this offseason and made clear my long-term belief in Dillingham. Still, it doesn’t seem like Dillingham is ready to take on a key role this season.
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