The NBA trade deadline is just eight days away, and if there's one Minnesota Timberwolves player who will be traded, it appears to be Rob Dillingham. With recent reporting from Jake Fischer, this possibility seems even more likely than before.
"I've also been told Minnesota isn't as keen as advertised when it comes to parting with Mike Conley Jr.; there appears to be more willingness to move on from Rob Dillingham," Fischer wrote.
The second-year guard has been out of the rotation since mid-December and struggled when he played, averaging just 3.5 points on 33.1 percent shooting from the field. However, Fischer's reporting is notable since he indicates a Mike Conley trade is unlikely. Furthermore, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto mentioned that the Wolves aren't interested in trading Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, or Donte DiVincenzo unless it's for a star.
As such, Dillingham is clearly the team's primary trade candidate. Frankly, I'd be surprised if he's on the team after February 5.
What trading Dillingham means for the Wolves
Now, who the Timberwolves can actually trade Dillingham for is up for debate. Despite being a 2024 lottery pick, he hasn't shown much promise, which could hinder the Wolves from getting someone truly impactful back. Nevertheless, the Wolves also have Terrence Shannon Jr. and seven second-round picks to trade.
A couple of second-round picks with the two former first-round picks could catch the interest of a team around the league. Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu of the Chicago Bulls are two trade targets I would advocate for, with the Wolves having known interest in Dosunmu. Both guards have a well-rounded skill set and are likely to be available for a reasonable price.
Beyond that, Jose Alvarado and Scotty Pippen Jr. would be names I'd look into.
It's reasonable to be disappointed that the Wolves seemingly don't want to trade Conley -- I certainly don't agree with this stance, as trading him could help land a higher-end target like Collin Sexton. Additionally, giving up on your 2024 lottery pick, who you traded up for, is a hard pill to swallow. Regardless, Dillingham is one of the Wolves' only logical trade candidates, and it's clear that he could benefit from a change of scenery.
In terms of who the Wolves could land, I actually feel pretty optimistic about the impact of some of the lower-cost targets the Wolves could land. The Wolves have a fantastic top-six -- they just need more depth and a better point guard.
If the Wolves pull off a move for someone like Jones, Dosunmu, or Alvarado, then they could surely put together another deep playoff run. And if such a deal is centered around Dillingham, then it would be a no-brainer.