Rob Dillingham’s NBA path has already taken another sharp turn, and this latest stop might be the one that tells the real story of what kind of player he’s going to become.
The former Timberwolves guard is headed to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that sends Buddy Hield back the other way, according to Shams Charania. For Dillingham, it’s another fresh start after a rocky beginning in Minnesota and a brief stretch with the Chicago Bulls that showed flashes without solving the bigger questions around his game.
Minnesota’s original bet was clear. After trading up to grab him in the 2024 NBA draft, the Timberwolves envisioned Dillingham as a future backcourt partner for Anthony Edwards.
That never really took hold. He spent much of his time on the outside of the rotation, unable to carve out a steady role.
At last year’s trade deadline, the Wolves moved him to Chicago along with Leonard Miller and four second-round picks for Ayo Dosunmu. Dillingham did get more consistent minutes with the Bulls, and he looked a little better there. But the same issues followed him.
The upside is obvious on offense. The problems are just as obvious.
Dillingham is listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, but the source notes that those measurements feel generous. His size has made life difficult at the rim, where he struggles to get all the way to the basket and finish once he’s there.
It also leaves him exposed defensively, with opponents able to target him in actions and rotations whenever he’s on the floor.
If he’s going to stick and thrive, there are a few swing skills that have to come around. The biggest one is his 3-point shot.
He was a good college shooter, but that touch still hasn’t shown up in the NBA, where he’s hitting just 32.4 percent from deep for his career. Playmaking is the other piece.
He’s been fine in that area in a small sample, but turnovers remain something he has to keep in check.
Charlotte gives him a chance to reset, and maybe that matters. Returning to his home state could help revive his career, and the Hornets may offer the kind of free-flowing style that fits him better.
But the path to minutes won’t be easy. He’ll have to fight for a rotational spot against Coby White, Dennis Schroder, and Christian Anderson.
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