We've already seen the Minnesota Timberwolves make several big contract extension decisions this offseason that showed us a lot about their view of certain players and their place on this team moving forward. Now, with Donte DiVincenzo also eligible for an extension, the decision about whether to offer him a new deal becomes a bit of a complicated one.
Looking at the Wolves' payroll, DiVincenzo is currently under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. With two more seasons of salary guaranteed, it's not a situation where Minnesota needs to make a decision now. But as we know, the best front offices make decisions several years ahead of time in order to be one step in front of their competition.
Donte is going to be owed $24.4 million over the course of the next two seasons. That's a very reasonable price tag for a guy who only continues to prove his value in this league as a sharpshooter and a high-level defender.
He's going to be very affordable for the next two years, but beyond that, he might start to price himself out of the Timberwolves' budget. That's the unfortunate reality when you talk about these things.
DiVincenzo might price himself out of the Timberwolves' budget
It tends to be a double-edged sword because you want the guy to play well in order for your team to perform well. But if he starts to gain too much market value for a new contract, he might price himself out of your long-term plans. It can be a pretty slippery slope.
Unfortunately, that's precisely what happened to Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the time that he arrived with the Wolves in February 2023 until signing with the Atlanta Hawks this summer. He came in with such low value and vastly outperformed his contract, necessitating a new, bigger payday.
To complicate matters, DiVincenzo is currently dealing with a recurring injury to his toe, the same one that kept him out for an extended stretch of Minnesota's season in 2024-25. We have no idea what that's going to do for his continued improvement, or how long it's going to keep him off the hardwood.
If you want my opinion, I would say this upcoming season would be a pretty effective barometer for whether the Timberwolves should be going hard after a new deal for Donte DiVincenzo. If he can quickly negate the effects of his injury and get back to playing high-level basketball, it would be well worth Minnesota's time to seek getting their guy back in town for the long haul.