After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, it was clear the Minnesota Timberwolves must upgrade their playmaking and guard play. If they opt not to draft a guard, the Wolves will focus on addressing this need in free agency or by making a trade. One player who stands out as a cost-efficient free agent target is Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie. While he's far from a star, Dinwiddie has the perfect skill set to help the Wolves fill this need and would come at a reasonable price.
Dinwiddie's playmaking presence would be vital
Playmaking is easily the best part of Dinwiddie's game; he's averaged 5.1 assists for his career, including 4.4 assists this past season. Additionally, he has an impressive 27.3 career assist percentage. Crucially, the 11-year veteran knows how to take care of the ball, averaging just 1.6 turnovers for his career. Having a trusted playmaker next to Anthony Edwards and Co. would be incredibly valuable for the Wolves. Landing a versatile playmaker with great positional size (6-foot-5) would be an ideal move for the Wolves. Dinwiddie's size would allow him to play next to Mike Conley or Rob Dillingham if needed, who are both undersized.
Conley can no longer play 30-plus minutes per game, but he can provide quality rotational minutes. Entering his second season, it's unclear what role Dillingham will play, but his shot-creation and playmaking abilities could allow him to crack the rotation. Signing Dinwiddie would give the Wolves another playmaker while not disrupting Dillingham's development.
Dinwiddie isn't a consistent shot creator, and his scoring efficiency has always been poor. Still, he can provide this skill at times. Undoubtedly, perimeter shot creation would still be a flaw for the Wolves. However, Dinwiddie's playmaking would make him a quality addition. Furthermore, it's possible that Dillingham has a breakout year and gives the Wolves the shot creation they need. Dinwiddie is simply a guard who provides solid rotation minutes and playmaking, which is exactly what the Wolves need.
Last season, Dinwiddie was signed to a minimum contract, and it's possible he could be again unless the Mavs overpay. With one of the highest payrolls in the league, the Wolves can't break the bank on free agents, making Dinwiddie a reasonable target.
While trading for a star-level guard like Darius Garland or Coby White would give the Wolves more upside, it could also gut their depth. Dinwiddie would be a low-risk move that would still benefit the team. If the Wolves pull off a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant and give up one of their guards, their need for Dinwiddie would only be greater. Ultimately, signing Dinwiddie seems like a logical move for the Wolves in multiple offseason scenarios.