The Minnesota Timberwolves have been seeking a long-term solution at point guard as Mike Conley Jr. has gotten older. They selected Rob Dillingham in the 2024 NBA Draft as a potential answer, but his rookie season was underwhelming.
Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, some speculated Rob Dillingham was supposed to be part of the Kevin Durant trade, but since that did not work out, it seems he will have a long-term spot on the team.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Timberwolves had a good run during the 2025 Playoffs. A dynamic point guard would have helped Anthony Edwards perform better. Conley is still a fantastic player, but he cannot be on the floor against many teams in the postseason.
He lacks the dynamic offense the Timberwolves need from their point guard. By being in the same backcourt as Edwards, the team needs someone like Dillingham to step up. With the Timberwolves not drafting a guard, that is immense trust to put on Dillingham.
Connelly Knows Dillingham Will Turn Out Good
After selecting Dillingham with the eighth overall pick in 2024, he came in with considerable hype. He was a dynamo in Overtime Elite and Kentucky, which led to the Minnesota selection.
His scoring potential is what caught people's eye, as the team needed that beyond Edwards. Most of the Timberwolves' perimeter players are catch-and-shoot players, so having another player who can generate shots beyond Edwards was a welcome addition.
Unfortunately, the 2024-25 season was underwhelming because Dillingham had to keep learning. He was working on his game, including a change to his jump shot mechanics.
That left him out for a large part of the season, only getting garbage time minutes here and there. Despite that underwhelming rookie year, Connelly finds it easy to trust Dillingham in the future.
"I think Rob looks fantastic, I think he had moments when he played last year, that were not just impactful for himself but impactful for team success," Connelly said after the 2025 Draft. "We’re excited, he brings a dynamic that we lack otherwise… I think they’ve all created a bit more trust with the coaching staff which should allow them to take on bigger and more prominent roles."
The Timberwolves Must Trust Dillingham To Play Well
For coach Chris Finch, he must find ways to integrate Dillingham more into his lineup. If that means playing Conley less, it would be better for the team because he cannot play heavy minutes against quicker teams.
Dillingham would be the perfect replacement because he has all the scoring tools while making improvements as a playmaker. He has Conley as a mentor, which is arguably the NBA's best mentor to young guards.
He will be ready for the opportunity, as he needs the green light from Finch and Connelly. Dillingham has All-Star potential, and he must be given the chance to showcase why he deserves a spot in the rotation and the trust of everyone in the organization.