The Minnesota Timberwolves have championship aspirations after reaching back-to-back conference finals. However, if there is one flaw in this roster, it is point guard play. Mike Conley is now officially 38 and has clearly declined to be a self-creator. His 8.2 points per game last season is a career low. Rob Dillingham is entering his second season. While he is a talented scorer and playmaker, it is unclear what role he will take on.
Given Conley’s decline as a scorer, many fans are hoping Donte DiVincenzo will replace Uncle Mike in the starting lineup. For a while this seemed like a real possibility to me. Nevertheless, after Chris Finch stated he prefers DiVincenzo off the ball and starting Conley over Donte in the preseason, it seems less likely.
Starting Conley may not be the most popular decision among Timberwolves fans, but I believe it is the right choice.
Conley’s presence as a stabilizing force is crucial
The Wolves’ biggest flaw is their playmaking; most notably last season they were in the bottom 10 for revenue per game. With DiVincenzo in the starting lineup, the Wolves would use a point guard by committee approach. Sure, DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are all capable ballhandlers and playmakers. Anyway, none of them are real table setters.
Say what you want about Conley, but he remains a high-level playmaker and a reliable decision-maker. The Ohio State product posted an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.25 last season, which ranked 18th in the league. Having a stabilizing force like Conley is vital for a Wolves team that lacks playmaking ability.
Conversely, DiVincenzo posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.27 (138th in the league). DiVincenzo would give the Timberwolves a nice boost in terms of shot creation and shooting, but the team’s playmaking is a bigger need. Additionally, according to Cleaning the Glass, Conley ranked at the 72nd percentile for on-off differential, while DiVincenzo ranked at the 48th percentile. Conley may have his limitations, but he is the best option in the Wolves starting lineup.
With DiVincenzo starting, it’s also worth noting that Dillingham will likely be completely out of the rotation. He probably won’t get big minutes, but the Wolves should see what they have with the 2024 No. 8 pick.
While Conley will likely remain a starter, depending on a 38-year-old to solve a major problem and play 25 minutes per game isn’t ideal. Regardless, Conley remains a starter and is the best option Chris Finch and the Timberwolves have.
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