Donte DiVincenzo is entering his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whether it's in a starter or bench role, DiVincenzo will be a key player for the Wolves. DiVincenzo's knockdown shooting, secondary creation, and connective playmaking make him an impactful player.
However, DiVincenzo has quietly been eligible for an extension since July. He has two years left on his four-year $46.8 million contract, and he is eligible to extend to a three-year $64.5 million deal per ESPN's Bobby Marks. Since he's not a free agent until 2027, this isn't exactly a pressing decision, and the most likely scenario is that this deal gets worked out next summer.
While an extension doesn't appear to be on the horizon soon, best believe DiVincenzo's play will be in the minds of Tim Connelly and Matt Lloyd. It's also likely that this season will determine the Wolves' willingness to pay DiVincenzo his full extension.
DiVincenzo is impactful, but how much is he worth?
Last season, DiVincenzo averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 42.2/39.7/77.8 shooting splits. DiVincenzo's 3-point shooting makes him especially valuable to the Wolves. While the 6-foot-4 guard is a solid connective playmaker, he's not a lead guard. Likewise, he's a capable on-ball defender but far from an elite point of attack stopper. You'd also like to see his efficiency inside the arc improve.
DiVincenzo's disappointing playoff showing further complicates things. Notably, the Villanova product averaged just 8.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds with 36.5/31.8/76.9 shooting splits last playoffs.
None of this should be a demerit on DiVincenzo. However, it's worth wondering if he's a player the Wolves are willing to pay $21.7 million annually to retain. DiVincenzo would give the Wolves a sixth player making $20 million plus a year after they signed Naz Reid to a five-year $125 million deal. In the second apron era, that could make things dicey.
The Wolves clearly value DiVincenzo, as he was the main sticking point of the blockbuster Julius Randle-Karl-Anthony Towns trade. How much they value him is a fair question, though.
If DiVincenzo is willing to sacrifice a bit of money, I could see a deal getting done at some point. Regardless, there's a scenario where this stretches into 2027. Obviously, that's a long way from now, but GMs have to be thinking of the future. Not being able to retain DiVincenzo and risking the possibility of him walking in free agency wouldn't be ideal for Connelly and the team.
Again, DiVincenzo's extension is a long-term conversation, but it's worth thinking about amid the excitement of the season starting. It's far from uncommon for an extension-eligible player to not reach a deal with their team immediately.
However, I have to wonder if the two sides disagree on value if DiVincenzo ultimately ends up being a trade candidate. This wouldn't be a discussion until the 2026 deadline at the earliest and more likely next offseason, but it's worth monitoring.
Overall, DiVincenzo's extension is one of the more under-the-radar storylines to keep an eye on with the Wolves this season.