Rob Dillingham is already causing the Timberwolves to rethink their depth chart

Second-year guard Rob Dillingham getting a bigger role is one of the more intriguing parts of the Minnesota Timberwolves' upcoming season. With Mike Conley turning 38 before the start of the season and Nickeil Alexander-Walker leaving in free agency, Dillingham will get a significant opportunity.

Head coach Chris Finch has openly discussed expanding the Wolves' rotation to include up to 10 players. This clearly hints at the 6-foot-1 guard getting a bigger role. However, it's unclear how many minutes Dillingham will get and how this will impact the rest of the rotation.

Dillingham's skill set could benefit the Timberwolves, but how much will he play?

Conley averaged a career low of 24.7 minutes and 8.2 points last season. These numbers further declined to 23.7 minutes and 6 points in the playoffs. With that in mind and Conley aging another year, it's not far-fetched to imagine him getting somewhere within the lower 20s to high teens for minutes.

Still, Dillingham averaged just 10.5 minutes and played in 49 games last season. The Kentucky product dealt with an ankle injury, but he was also frequently a coach's decision DNP, which accounted for 18 of Dillingham's unplayed games. Going from this to being a mainstay in the Wolves is a big jump. However, it's likely, and Dillingham has a perfect skill set to remedy the Wolves' flaws.

The Wolves desperately need a point guard who can create shots for himself and generate rim pressure. That's exactly what Dillingham provides. In his limited minutes as a rookie, Dillingham ranked in the 75th percentile for isolation scoring, and he shot 62.1 percent at the rim. Dillingham's speed and shot creation give the Wolves a much-needed different element in the backcourt. Plus, he's a high-level and versatile playmaker.

Anthony Edwards thrives next to a point guard, which gives Dillingham a significant chance to get real minutes. However, it's still unclear how many minutes Dillingham will earn, and there is some concern about how his slight frame will hold up on defense. Finch will have to manage developing Dillingham, along with Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark. All while continuing to give the proven players real minutes. Managing this rotation will be challenging for Finch.

Assuming Conley's minutes are reduced to around 20 a game, I could see Dillingham getting a similar amount. With the remaining eight or so minutes, the Wolves could operate without a traditional point guard, giving Donte DiVincenzo, Edwards, or even Shannon a chance to run the show.

However, if these minutes don't go well and/or Dillingham exceeds expectations, the 2024 lottery pick could get even more minutes. It's possible Dillingham even eventually takes Conley's starting spot. Ultimately, Finch has some difficult decisions to make regarding the Wolves' depth chart, and Dillingham's role is central to this.