In the Timberwolves’ most recent game on Monday, Rob Dillingham did not receive any playing time. His normal time on the court instead went to Bones Hyland, who scored 14 points in 16 minutes. With the way Hyland performed, one would have to expect that this change in the rotation isn’t just a one-game thing.
There are many reasons why Dillingham has been subtracted from the rotation. His play certainly hasn’t earned him the right to be a staple in it. Something that isn’t talked about enough, though, is how the Julius Randle trade really hurt his chance at success from the start due to Minnesota also adding guard Donte DiVincenzo in the deal.
Another guard ahead of Dillingham in the rotation
Selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Dillingham saw a Timberwolves roster where he could receive playing time from the get-go. The then 19-year-old knew he might not be able to take the starting point guard position right away from Mike Conley. Conley would be 37 years old by the time the 2024-25 season began, though, so a decrease in minutes was expected.
With Anthony Edwards of course being the other member of the starting backcourt, the only other guard who would likely begin last season ahead of Dillingham in the pecking order was Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That all changed when the late offseason blockbuster trade brought in DiVincenzo.
This was a player who had just set the Knicks’ single-season record for 3-pointers made in a season. A player who shot 40.1 percent from 3-point territory in the regular season and upped it to 42.5 percent in the playoffs for New York. A player who averaged playing at least 23 minutes per contest in each of the previous five years.
The Timberwolves didn’t enter last season as some rebuilding team that could focus on developing the youth. Chris Finch had to be focused on winning after the team reached the 2024 Western Conference Finals (did likewise in 2025).
Would a change of scenery be beneficial for Dillingham?
I personally don’t believe in giving up on a player like Dillingham, who doesn’t turn 21 years old until January 4. Right now, we have just 70 games of regular season data (not even a full season) on him. In a lot of those games, Dillingham received limited playing time.
Perhaps a trade to a different team is a way to unlock some of that untapped potential from the 6-foot-2 guard. Yes, that team likely wouldn’t be as good as Minnesota, but Dillingham would have an easier pathway to minutes to help him further develop.
Even while in the rotation, Dillingham has been mostly receiving single digits in minutes played. It’s hard to get in a rhythm when your play is so sporadic. Unfortunately for him, acquiring Randle and DiVincenzo gave him a more difficult road to playing time.