At just 21 years old and in only his second NBA season, Rob Dillingham already finds himself at a crossroads - and it's becoming increasingly clear that his future likely lies outside of Minnesota.
The Timberwolves took Dillingham with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a move that spoke to his upside as a dynamic, creative guard with serious scoring chops. But fast forward to January 2026, and that promise has yet to materialize in Minneapolis.
He’s been out of the rotation for over a month, and even before that, his minutes were sporadic and minimal. Now, with the trade deadline looming on February 5, Minnesota is reportedly open to dealing him.
And one team that makes a lot of sense? The Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento Could Be the Opportunity Dillingham Needs
Let’s start with the obvious: Dillingham needs playing time. He’s not getting it in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves are firmly in win-now mode and can’t afford to give developmental minutes to a young guard still learning the ropes. Sacramento, on the other hand, is in a very different place.
Despite a modest three-game win streak, the Kings sit at 11-30 - seven games back of even the Play-In Tournament. That kind of record usually signals a shift in priorities, and Sacramento appears headed toward a roster shakeup. Several backcourt pieces could be on the move, and that could open the door for a player like Dillingham to get the reps he needs.
Keon Ellis is a name that’s been floating around the rumor mill, and Malik Monk - last season’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up - recently had a stretch of three DNPs. Then there’s Dennis Schroder, who just returned from a three-game suspension and doesn’t exactly fit the timeline of a team looking to rebuild. Same goes for Russell Westbrook, who, at 37, is well past the developmental phase.
If Sacramento does indeed clear out some of that veteran depth, there’s a real path for Dillingham to step in and get meaningful minutes - something he hasn’t had all season.
Why a Fresh Start Makes Sense
In 32 appearances this year, Dillingham is averaging just 3.6 points per game on 33.8% shooting. He’s only cracked the 20-minute mark once.
Those numbers aren’t going to turn heads, but they also don’t tell the whole story. This is a young player who’s never had the chance to find a rhythm or play through mistakes - a critical part of development for any young guard.
The Timberwolves, understandably, are focused on competing at the top of the Western Conference. That leaves little room for on-the-job training. But in Sacramento, where the focus is shifting toward building for the future, Dillingham could get the runway he needs.
A change of scenery isn’t just a possibility at this point - it feels necessary. Minnesota won’t get back the value they spent to draft him eighth overall, but sometimes the best move is admitting when a fit just isn’t working. For Dillingham, the right situation could unlock the talent that made him a top-10 pick in the first place.
And for the Kings? Taking a flyer on a high-upside 21-year-old might be exactly the kind of swing a rebuilding team should be taking.