Heading into the season, it was widely believed that second-year point guard Rob Dillingham would command a bigger role in the rotation. It seemed logical, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded up into the lottery to draft him (parting ways with two first-round picks) back in 2024. Additionally, with Mike Conley aging and Nickeil Alexander-Walker leaving in free agency, it seemed like real minutes would be open for Dillingham.
However, much to the dismay of Wolves fans, this hasn't been the case 11 games into the season. Dillingham has appeared in nine of these games, missing one with injury, and on one opening night, he received a DNP. Overall, Dillingham is averaging 11.9 minutes (1.4 more than last year), 5.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 turnovers on 41.3/22.2/72.7 shooting splits.
If these first 11 games have taught us anything, it's that Dillingham still doesn't have a consistent role in the rotation. To me, this is due to both him not being ready and Chris Finch not prioritizing his development.
Dillingham's minutes have been few and far between
Dillingham has struggled to play real minutes since Anthony Edwards returned from injury. Sure, Dillingham's minutes are at 10.8 per game, just below his season average. However, many of these minutes have been when the result of the game has been decided.
Monday night's game against the Utah Jazz was surprisingly close; the Wolves pulled off a seven-point win, but Dillingham saw just under four minutes. I get that it was a close game, but if the Jazz aren't an advantageous matchup, what is? Dillingham was also coming off a season-high 11-point game against the Sacramento Kings.
It's also worth noting that Terrence Shannon Jr. has been sidelined since Edwards returned. Will Dillingham get pulled entirely from the Wolves' rotation? My guess is that Dillingham and Shannon will compete for limited spot minutes. Wolves fans don't want to hear this, but the reality is that Dillingham (again) isn't part of Finch's rotation.
Is Dillingham not ready for real minutes, or has he not been given a fair chance?
I don't want to sound like a fence sitter, but I really do understand both sides of the coin. On one hand, Dillingham is a skilled guard who gives the Wolves some much-needed perimeter shot creation. With the investment that they made in him, why not play him? While Dillingham hasn't been perfect in his little minutes, he hasn't played enough to prove himself.
In defense of Finch, though, smaller guards take a long time to develop, which is tricky for a team with title aspirations. Dillingham will always be a defensive target based on size alone, and he's struggled to score so far this year. At this point, Conley still gives the Wolves a better chance to win on a nightly basis despite his own flaws.
With that being said, I ultimately lean toward the first perspective; Dillingham needs more minutes to prove himself and find a rhythm. Whether you blame Finch or believe that Dillingham isn't ready, it's clear that the talented guard isn't a staple of the Wolves' rotation.