Monday afternoon brought a simply crushing injury update for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After being without Donte DiVincenzo for the last couple of games, the team released an official report on what exactly his status will be moving forward.
According to the Timberwolves' statement, DiVincenzo has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 sprain in his left great toe. Essentially what this means is that he will remain out of Minnesota's lineup indefinitely, with the recovery process for this type of injury typically being anywhere between two and six months.
This update was certainly a cringeworthy notification for Wolves fans to get. Donte had been on an absolute tear as of late, and he had been a big reason Minnesota's offense has taken such a notable step forward in recent weeks.
With DiVincenzo now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, it seems there is only one logical option left for Chris Finch and his staff to make if they are to salvage this season. It may just be time for Rob Dillingham to step into a big role and let the youngster show what he can do for a team desperately in need of help.
The Timberwolves should be playing Rob Dillingham 30 minutes per night
We have seen plenty of promising signs from Dillingham in the limited time he has gotten on the floor to this point. He's made his share of rookie mistakes as any young player will do, but he has proven he has the talent to be an impact player for this team. Rob's scoring and playmaking are still in the baby stages at the NBA level, and yet his ability is already flat-out undeniable.
Moreover, Dillingham has displayed an uncommon brand of confidence much akin to that of Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves' franchise player recently praised Rob's belief in himself, which is an excellent sign for his continued development.
So what would this expanded role for Dillingham look like? It is a bold take, but in my mind Rob should become the team's starting point guard while DiVincenzo remains out. Dillingham would get the chance to run Minnesota's offense full-time, and his shot creation ability would have the potential to continue leveling up this offense.
If I were Finch, I would be thinking about getting Dillingham on the floor for 30 minutes a night and depending on the matchup, including him in the closing group as well. Doing so might just be the Timberwolves' best path forward.