The Timberwolves had a transparent goal in Wednesday evening’s NBA draft: discovering gamers who can play quick, create their very own photographs and inject extra life — notably on offense — into the second unit.
Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and Co. discovered not only one, however two gamers who match that invoice in Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham and Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr.
The previous was a participant not many would have anticipated the Timberwolves to land. They did not have many property, and Connelly mentioned they weren’t keen to surrender any of their core position gamers to maneuver up within the draft. However Connelly received artistic, sending a first-round decide in 2031 and a protected decide swap in 2030 for Dillingham, whom the San Antonio Spurs chosen with the No. 8 general decide.
Whereas Connelly views these picks as fairly beneficial, he believes the Timberwolves are getting a participant who could make a right away affect. Count on Dillingham to see minutes from the get-go.
“Yeah, for positive,” Connelly instructed reporters Wednesday evening when requested whether or not Dillingham will play immediately. “I do not assume you progress as aggressive as this and sit on him. … He is a man that, from Day 1, goes to have a task and duty, definitely it is going to be arduous for him, however I do not assume you are that aggressive within the high 10 with a man you do not assume can play immediately.”
Dillingham, 19, is the kind of participant that matches the invoice of precisely what the Timberwolves want. He is a guard who can create for himself, knock down photographs from 3-point vary and unfold the ground. He is been touted as among the finest — if not the most effective — shot creators within the draft in addition to among the finest shooters on this draft. These are each skillsets the Timberwolves wanted on the roster.
“We have been making an attempt to deal with sure issues this offseason, definitely bench scoring, means to create for themselves and others,” Connelly mentioned. “(Timberwolves coach Chris Finch) talks about it on a regular basis, breaking the paint, breaking the paint, taking part in within the paint, taking part in with a bit extra tempo, and all of these attributes are actually hallmarks for (Dillingham’s) sport.”
Dillingham’s numbers at Kentucky final season would recommend as a lot. Regardless of coming off the bench, he was the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer at 15.2 factors per sport whereas capturing 48% from the sphere and 44% from 3-point vary. He additionally averaged 3.9 assists and a couple of.9 rebounds per sport whereas being named to the All-Southeastern Convention Second Crew and the SEC Sixth Man of the 12 months.
“I really feel like I will be as a lot of a assist as they want me to be,” Dillingham instructed NBA TV after the draft. “And no matter they want me to do, I really feel like I can are available and do it, for positive.”
The one knock on Dillingham is his protection. At 6-foot-1, 164 kilos, Dillingham is a bit undersized for the NBA, and it’ll probably be tough for him to defend a lot bigger our bodies on the subsequent degree. However Connelly mentioned they’ll problem him defensively and count on him to embrace that problem.
Dillingham understands, too, that the Timberwolves consider in him and gave up property to deliver him in.
“It simply reveals that they belief me,” Dillingham instructed reporters following the draft when requested concerning the picks Minnesota used to maneuver up for him within the draft. “That they are trusting in me to develop, so in the event that they belief me, that is all I wanted and I really feel like that is all I wanted from any workforce.
“Them really exhibiting me is simply extra of a blessing.”
And what Dillingham brings to the desk may help the Timberwolves within the brief time period in addition to the long run. Connelly views Dillingham as a real 1, and it is probably Minnesota sees him because the successor to Mike Conley, who’s underneath contract for 2 extra seasons however turns 37 years outdated this fall.
Conley’s presence will give Dillingham time to develop, and Conley as a savvy veteran who’s seen nearly every thing throughout over 1,100 profession video games might be a participant who Dillingham can study from.
Dillingham is trying ahead to absorbing as a lot as he can from the Wolves’ veterans.
“It is actually only a blessing as a result of I get to study from numerous gamers and veterans and gamers that is actual good, so them serving to me is only a plus for me,” Dillingham mentioned.
It seems with the choice of Dillingham, the Wolves have established a robust backcourt for years to come back in Dillingham and Anthony Edwards. It is an thrilling prospect to tout a dynamic guard duo that may create for themselves and others because the Wolves attempt to construct on their finest season in a long time.
“I do not even know what to anticipate, truthfully,” Dillingham instructed NBA TV. ” what Anthony Edwards brings, so what to anticipate from him, however I will positively be working, too. So I do not know what to anticipate but, however you may see when the season comes.”