Rob Dillingham is not a draft "bust." He's played 60 games in his NBA career, and he still can't legally buy a drink at a bar in Minneapolis. I refuse to write him off so early in his NBA journey, and I believe his early rocky road in Minnesota will eventually smooth out. So I am, in no way, hitting the panic button on Dillingham.
With that being said — the Wolves used a premium pick on Dillingham, and to watch players who were taken after him start to break out around the league doesn't feel great for Wolves fans. Matas Buzelis, the No. 11 pick, has become an obvious cornerstone in Chicago. Tristan da Silva, pick No. 18, looks comfortable in year two in Orlando.
These are the types of picks that teams in the Wolves' position have to get right. The thought process behind it made sense; acquiring a lottery pick after the Wolves' best season in nearly 20 years was, in my opinion, an awesome decision. It was a perfect way to keep the momentum going and to inject more excitement into the future of this franchise. Plus, Dillingham appeared to be the perfect fit to be eased into a starting backcourt role next to Anthony Edwards.
But with the OKC Thunder becoming a dynasty before our eyes, the Denver Nuggets reloading in the offseason, and the Houston Rockets playing like a powerhouse with Kevin Durant in the mix, there's no room for the Wolves to miss on lottery picks, especially with how it's beginning to feel like the current roster has maxed out what its capable of.
Timberwolves had the right idea in adding Rob Dillingham
In year two, Dillingham appears to be falling out of the rotation instead of becoming an integral part of it, and that's a concerning sign for the Wolves — regardless of who you think is responsible for this whole fiasco.
I know it's impossible to ask teams to hit a home run on every draft pick, trade, and free agency signing. But the Wolves don't have much cap space or time to play with right now; every move must move them closer to a championship. I'm not saying that drafting Rob Dillingham won't be that kind of move. But seeing other 2024 picks emerge into players who would clearly close the gap between the Wolves and the Thunder is starting to sting a bit.