Crucial aspect of Rob Dillingham's game can't be forgotten

With Mike Conley aging and Rob Dillingham developing more, Dilly is poised for a bigger role in his second season. While many people are aware of Dillingham’s three-level scoring and shifty handles, his passing abilities often get overlooked. The Minnesota Timberwolves' need for additional playmaking around Anthony Edwards was clear after the Western Conference Finals, making this skill crucial for Dillingham. Let's dive into an often-overlooked element of Dillingham's game and how it will benefit the Wolves.

Dillingham's impact as a playmaker

Dillingham’s 2 assists per game don’t jump off the page. However, he only appeared in 49 games and averaged 10.5 minutes. Notably, Dillingham notched five-plus assists seven times and posted an impressive 28.3 assist percentage. In college, he averaged 3.9 assists per game and posted a 29.7 assist percentage. With more opportunity and a talented group of scorers around him, Dillingham could average around five assists per game with an assist percentage in the high 20s. 

The Kentucky product is capable of making a variety of passes, including lobs, crosscourt dimes, pinpoint pocket passes, and one-mores. Whatever pass Dillingham makes, he delivers with extreme accuracy, and he has the crucial ability to thread passes through multiple defenders. This versatility as a passer will undoubtedly benefit Dillingham and the Wolves when he gets more minutes. However, Dillingham’s ability to throw lob passes might be the most crucial aspect of his playmaking, as this will give Rudy Gobert an easy source of offense. 

Dillingham’s connection with Naz Reid is also worth noting. Of Dillingham’s 98 assists, 27 of them were to Reid, many of which were on pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll players. The two-man lineup of Dillingham and Reid posted an absurd 11.1 net rating. As Dillingham gets a bigger role, expect this duo to become even more important. Barring a lineup change, Reid and Dillingham project to be two of the Wolves' most important off the bench. 

Both of them can create shots for themselves and others, which will greatly benefit the Wolves. Between Reid, Dillingham, Donte DiVincenzo, and Terrence Shannon Jr., the Wolves' bench has tons of scoring upside. Nevertheless, Dillingham’s ability to balance this out with his playmaking will be vital. 

Final thoughts

It has always been clear how Dillingham’s blazing speed, electric handle, and ability to generate rim pressure would give the Wolves a different element from Conley. However, Conley’s impact as a playmaker is still immense. What people tend to ignore when thinking about Dillingham being a successor to Conley is that he can replicate some of Conley’s playmaking. Before the start of next season, Conley will be 38, and he can no longer play such a substantial role. As a result, Dillingham will be a key part of the Wolves' rotation. 

While Dillingham’s scoring prowess is well-discussed, his impact as a playmaker can’t be forgotten, especially within the context of a Wolves squad that desperately needs this skill. Ultimately, Dillingham’s speed, shot creation, and playmaking will make him the ideal long-term point guard next to Edwards in the backcourt.