Rob Dillingham's role with the Minnesota Timberwolves has been a point of discussion all season long. With Anthony Edwards returning to the court on Wednesday, it was always going to be worth monitoring what role Dillingham had. While the Kentucky product notched 12 minutes (just below his season average of 12.8), six of these were at the end of the game when Minnesota was down by 16.
Dillingham recorded six points and four assists while shooting 28.6 percent from the field. He struggled defensively, given his size, which is a theme in every matchup despite his willingness to compete. Additionally, Dillingham's minutes should raise eyebrows considering that Terrence Shannon Jr. was sidelined. Once TSJ returns, along with Edwards being back in the mix, Dillingham will likely struggle to find consistent minutes.
Now, this game comes with a caveat that it was against an elite New York Knicks squad. However, it also shows that Dillingham will play little to no minutes in high-leverage games. Even on a typical night, Dillingham's role will fluctuate.
It's tough to find minutes for Dillingham
Heading into the season, head coach Chris Finch mentioned that he would run a nine-to-10-man rotation. He also mentioned that the ninth man may fluctuate based on the matchup. The top seven of the rotation were always clear, and heading into the season, it was widely believed that Shannon would earn the eighth spot. However, Shannon has struggled thus far, averaging 3.9 points on 32.1 percent shooting from the field. Furthermore, with the Wolves struggling defensively, Jaylen Clark must be a mainstay in the rotation.
This situation is fluid, but for now, it feels like Dillingham and Shannon will be fighting for the ninth spot in the rotation. Will there be games where both players earn minutes? Sure, but I expect these minutes to be few and far between.
Undoubtedly, Dillingham is a talented player, and his skill set is an ideal fit for the Wolves' needs on paper. Nevertheless, Dillingham's defense makes it hard to play him, especially with the Wolves' defensive struggles as a team. Moreover, he has struggled to find his shot, averaging 4.8 points, on 42.9 shooting from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. At 4-4 in an ultra-competitive West, the Wolves need to prioritize playing guys who will help them win.
Hopefully, Dillingham can eventually find his groove, but for now, I would be surprised if Finch plays him any significant minutes.