The Minnesota Timberwolves' need for more traditional point guard play has not been under-discussed. It has basically been a constant point of discussion ever since early in the season when signs that Mike Conley may be beginning to show some age became evident.
Conley always seems to bring a veteran leadership and a calming presence to whatever lineup he joins on the hardwood, but that does not mean he is devoid of mistakes. Mike has been seriously struggling shooting the ball this season, with his shooting splits all down and his scoring average leaving something to be desired as well.
He can perhaps still find his shot this season, but in the meantime, the Wolves do not have the luxury of being able to sit aroud and simply wait for that development to come about. They are fighting tooth and nail to remain in the playoff picture in a jam-packed Western Conference, and Conley has already seen himself moved to the bench in favor of the hot shooting of Donte DiVincenzo.
Minnesota could use another traditional PG
While DiVo's presence in the starting unit allows Minnesota to achieve different things offensively, it still may not ultimately be their end-all when it comes to their best five to begin games with. There is a world where the Timberwolves are at their best with more of a traditional pass-first, playmaking point guard in the lineup instead of DiVincenzo. That player archetype is increasingly rare in the NBA these days, but the Wolves could use the upcoming trade deadline to find someone that fits the bill.
We have already explored how options exist for Minnesota to find another point guard through the free agent market, but assessing trade options would be smart as well. There was hope early in the season that Rob Dillingham could step into a bigger minutes role if Mike needed to take a step back, but his injury compounded the problem of him not playing a lot to begin with dashed those hopes.
As stated, if Conley's shot returns to him, the equation could change for the Timberwolves. But in the meantime, finding a dedicated distributor to make the half-court offense more efficient has to be one of Minnesota's top priorities at the deadline.