Donte DiVincenzo has had growing pains in Minnesota after a career season alongside his Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart in New York. However, amidst his struggles, DiVincenzo has continued to showcase that his archetype is essential to the Timberwolves’ roster composition.
Like any other role player in the NBA, Donte DiVincenzo is volatile.
Still, while DiVincenzo may sometimes make loud turnovers and show defensive inconsistencies, his counting data and advanced lineup metrics speak for themselves.
“3-and-D” is an archetype that has become an overused buzzword in basketball. However, it describes DiVincenzo perfectly. It’s the two areas where DiVincenzo can have the most impact.
Offensively, he has found his groove this season.
Donte DiVincenzo is renowned for his three-point shooting, but his ability to stretch defenses and make them second-guess their help remains invaluable to the Timberwolves. No one else on the roster can replicate it, and his output has proven that.
DiVincenzo’s 192 three-pointers this season rank third in the NBA, and his 154 catch-and-shoot three-pointers made rank second in the NBA.
He is Minnesota’s most efficient and effective play finisher. DiVincenzo can create offense off a mid-post kickout from Julius Randle, or a half-court drive and kick playing off the gap to help the defender’s momentum towards Anthony Edwards. He can also use a second-side pindown that capitalizes on the scoring gravity of a teammate across the court, or just utilizes his shooting range to spot up far off the arc.
When the Timberwolves have one of their best shooters on the floor, they are going to have more room to operate due to DiVincenzo’s spacing. However, the data support DiVincenzo’s importance to Minnesota’s perimeter scoring.
According to DataBallr, the Timberwolves shoot 3% better from three-point range when DiVincenzo is on the court compared to off the court, and 4.6% better on corner threes. He’s also the only Wolves rotational player who has a positive ON/OFF in three-point frequency and percentage.
We’ve seen DiVincenzo’s name come up in trade discussions because of his affordable contract and reliable impact. If the Timberwolves are big-game hunting for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, it would make sense to include DiVincenzo in the dialogue. Although if the Timberwolves are looking to make a lateral move, there is just no point with DiVincenzo.
The impact that DiVincenzo brings as a spacer and shooter to Minnesota’s roster build that features Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.
Defensively, Donte DiVincenzo has begun to find his groove again.
The most important area with DiVincenzo’s defense is understanding his role and areas of strength.
DiVincenzo struggles as a one-on-one, point-of-attack defender. He doesn’t have the foot speed, width, or size to stick with offensive opponents outside of comparable athletes with similar size. Some of it is also based on DiVincenzo’s energy spent as a shooter on offense.
As Minnesota’s best off-ball scoring option, DiVincenzo covers a lot of ground. Even within possession-to-possession basketball, he showcases some of the most effort of any player.
Still, while added effort is important, he shines the brightest as a disruptive defender.
Donte DiVincenzo brings a different element of disruption to a fairly vanilla defensive scheme centered on Rudy Gobert’s drop coverage. He gives extra fight around screens, cuts off passing lanes, uses active hands, or takes calculated gambles in defensive rotation.
The advanced data also backs up DiVincenzo’s disruptive archetype on defense.
According to NBARAPM, DiVincenzo ranks well among defensive playmakers in his position group.
2.2 steals per game is in the 78th percentile
0.5 offensive fouls drawn per 100 possessions is in the 71st percentile
4.9 deflections per game is in the 84th percentile
Donte DiVincenzo is a prototypical 3-and-D player, but in his own unique way. His three-point spacing, lineup malleability, and defensive playmaking give the Timberwolves a different feel that would be hard to replicate.
It’s all a result of DiVincenzo being an ON/OFF darling this season.
When DiVincenzo is on the court, the team is significantly better, no matter how it looks.
DiVincenzo’s +9.9 ON/OFF makes him one of the league’s most impactful players on a per-minute basis. He makes most of his impact on offense, where he’s generated a +7.1 ON/OFF offensive rating, mostly because of his three-point shooting.
On a game-to-game basis, it can be hard to get a read on DiVincenzo. However, he’s vital to Minnesota’s roster build and lineups. Whether he is at his best or at his worst on a possession-to-possession basis, the Timberwolves play some of their best basketball when Donte DiVincenzo is on the court.