Rob Dillingham's summer league performance proves scouts biggest worry

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a shocking trade to select Rob Dillingham eighth overall in the 2024 draft. The 19-year-old was a walking bucket at Kentucky and fans were hyped about his potential.

Dillingham struggled in his first summer league action. He dealt with an ankle injury throughout the pre-draft process and may have needed a few games to knock off the rust. The 6’2 dominated Minnesota’s final contest in Vegas, but he still averaged just 13.6 points on 36.0 percent shooting from the field over his five games.

Fans were impressed by his passing and willingness to fire away. Dillingham took 15 shots in 29.8 minutes per game, including 5.2 3-point tries each night. His offense is not a question. The teenager will get buckets, but his biggest flaw may make it difficult to keep him on the floor.

Rob Dillingham’s defense was problematic in the summer league

The Timberwolves were hiding Dillingham on secondary offensive options, and the opposition attacked the 6’2 guard whenever they needed a bucket. He was the lightest player at the draft combine at 164.2 pounds. Dillingham can get bullied by larger players and was caught out of position several times. Finding a matchup for him won’t be easy, especially since teams will look to attack him regularly.

There was no questioning his effort. The teenager competed hard on both ends of the floor, but he did not hold up well defensively. It made his shooting woes more problematic and left fans wondering if he would play at all as a rookie.

Rob Dillingham figures to slot in behind Mike Conley during the regular season. Expect him to get buckets and make plays, but does his defense see him played off the floor? Early signs suggest it is a problem, but he went to the right franchise.

The Timberwolves had the best defensive rating in the NBA last season by more than two points per 100 possessions. They are elite on that end of the floor. Expect head coach Chris Finch to use Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert to help prop up the rookie’s defense. Dillingham will stick in the regular season, but the playoffs could be a different story.

Rob Dillingham showed flashes of his immense potential during the Las Vegas Summer League. He needs time to fill into his body and continue improving his game. Dillingham has elite offensive upside and just needs to be passable on defense. The Minnesota Timberwolves have talent around him and could be the perfect fit to help him blossom. Just give it time.