The Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to establish offensive consistency this season, and the numbers paint a concerning picture. Ranking 24th in assists per game and 25th in assist-to-turnover ratio, the Wolves’ offense has been plagued by a lack of ball movement and frequent mistakes.
While injuries to Mike Conley have forced the team to use Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as point guards more frequently, it’s clear this approach isn’t working. Here’s why DiVincenzo and Alexander-Walker shouldn’t function as point guards in the Wolves’ offense going forward.
One of Minnesota's biggest issues has been their lack of off-ball activity, which contributes to their low assist ranking (24th in the league). Movement without the ball is crucial to creating spacing, open looks and generating assists, and DiVincenzo and NAW are two of the team’s best off-ball movers.
When they’re used as ball handlers and offense initiators, the Timberwolves lose off-ball activity. Their cutting, spacing, and ability to find openings for quick scoring opportunities are minimized when they are focused on initiating the offense. DiVincenzo and NAW are at their best receiving passes, not making them.
Off-ball movement is key to efficient offense
To address their assist struggles, the Wolves need to maximize the contributions of players who excel at creating off-ball movement—and that starts by keeping DiVincenzo and NAW in roles that suit their skill sets. Doing this should help balance out the ball-dominance of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle within the offense.
The Wolves aren’t just low on assists - they also turn the ball over a lot. Minnesota ranks 22nd in the league in turnovers, leading to a dismal 25th-ranked assist-to-turnover ratio. As primary ball handlers, DiVincenzo and NAW have been contributors to this issue, ranking 3rd and 5th on the team in turnovers.
Both players are better suited as secondary playmakers rather than primary ball handlers. When they’re tasked with initiating the offense, the lack of natural point guard instincts results in a lot of risky passes, which at times can fuel the team’s turnover issues.
By moving them off the ball more frequently, the Timberwolves can minimize these costly errors and focus on getting the ball into the hands of players better equipped to manage the offense. While the roster is limited in this regard outside of Mike Conley, there is one better candidates to initiate the Wolves’ struggling offense.
Minnesota's turnovers remain a problem
Injuries to Mike Conley have forced the Wolves to experiment with DiVincenzo and NAW at point guard, perhaps more than Chris Finch had planned on before the season. But after his team-best plus-26 performance against Houston on Tuesday, it’s clear that Rob Dillingham can offer a solution at point guard. As a natural ball handler with point guard instincts, Dillingham provides a more stable option when Conley is unavailable.
Dillingham’s presence allows the Wolves to preserve DiVincenzo and NAW for roles that maximize their effectiveness. This would not only reduce their turnovers, but it would also increase the team’s overall offensive balance, providing cutting and spacing that can gives this Wolves offense a dynamic it has been missing all season.
Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are crucial to Minnesota's success, but not as primary ball handlers. Their ability to cut, space the floor, and finish plays is precisely what the Wolves need to fix their stagnant offense. Pairing this with Rob Dillingham’s playmaking and a healthy Mike Conley provides a blueprint for improved ball movement and reduced turnovers.
Looking ahead, if the Wolves cannot find a way to initiate their offense in a way that creates more assists with fewer turnovers, the point guard position may be a spot Minnesota looks to address at the trade deadline.