Donte DiVincenzo joined this Minnesota Timberwolves team and got off to a bit of a slow start, shooting just 30% from three-point range through the end of November. This development led many to declare early on that acquiring him was a mistake, that he did not have a permanent place on this roster, and that the team should look to move him. These were all, of course, flat-out ridiculous assertions.
It was plainly obvious that DiVincenzo was going to get back in his normal rhythm at one point or another. His shooting ability was never going to disappear overnight, and he is a far too impactful all-around player to consider moving him after a few slow weeks to begin the season. As the 2024-25 campaign rolled on, Donte began to really prove how valuable he is.
Consider his three-game stretch in January where he put up 68 total points and made 15 three-pointers. The final of those three games saw him score a season-high 28 and log nine assists while making six shots from beyond the arc at a 50% clip. Even the doubters and naysayers were beginning to accept that DiVincenzo's impact on this team's performance was legitimate.
DiVincenzo's contract is extremely valuable
Then came the toe injury that sidelined him for the second half of January and most of February. The Timberwolves' offense did not look quite the same without Donte, and it made many that much more appreciative of his high level of play. Over the course of the last seven games since his return, DiVincenzo has been putting on a clinic for Minnesota once again, and it points to the ridiculous value of his contract.
Donte is currently playing on a four-year, $46.8 million deal, which is quite reasonable considering what he provides to this team. Making just $11.4 million this season, DiVincenzo is playing much closer to the level of someone making $20 million per season. Chris Finch has raved about his all-around play, noting his strong rebounding abilities and playmaking skill. As Finch describes it, his "back-breaking" threes that he makes are the cherry on top.
As the Timberwolves continue to make a strong playoff push, they will have a much higher ceiling with the likes of DiVincenzo and his services around. Donte is a legitimate difference-maker, and the very affordable contract he plays on make him that much more valuable to this team.