Rob Dillingham’s Rough Sophomore Season Raises Trade Deadline Questions for Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a close one to the Houston Rockets on Friday, but the bigger story might’ve been who didn’t play. With Anthony Edwards sidelined due to a toe injury, second-year guard Rob Dillingham still didn’t see the floor - not even for a spot-minute cameo. And that’s becoming a trend.
Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has spent most of this season glued to the bench, outside of occasional garbage time appearances. It’s a far cry from what the Timberwolves envisioned when they traded up to grab him - a move that cost them a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round swap with the Spurs.
The idea was clear: find a dynamic young guard to eventually take the reins from veteran Mike Conley. So far, that future hasn’t materialized.
A Steep Drop in Efficiency
The numbers tell the story. According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Dillingham is shooting just 33% on two-point attempts this season - the worst mark in the league among players with at least 100 such tries.
That’s 34 makes on 102 attempts. And it’s not just a road issue, though he’s been particularly cold away from Target Center (30.2% on the road).
Even at home, the touch around the rim and in the midrange just hasn’t been there.
That’s a sharp decline from his rookie campaign, where he hit nearly 50% of his twos (68-for-137). This season, the confidence seems to be missing, and the minutes have followed suit.
Rotation Realities
It’s not just the poor shooting that’s kept Dillingham out of the lineup - it’s who’s stepped up in his place. Bones Hyland has surged into the rotation, bringing energy and shot-making that Minnesota needs in its backcourt. With Conley still logging meaningful minutes and the Timberwolves in the thick of a competitive Western Conference race, head coach Chris Finch and his staff have prioritized players who can contribute right now.
Assistant coach Micah Nori touched on the situation earlier this week in an interview with KFAN’s Dan Barreiro. “By no means is he on the out,” Nori said. “It’s just a matter of we’re trying to win games, Bones is playing very, very well, and you’re going to have growing pains.”
That last part is key - growing pains are expected for young guards. But when a team is trying to win now, patience gets tested. And with Dillingham’s development seemingly stalled, the question becomes: is Minnesota still the right place for him to grow?
Deadline Decisions Looming
With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, Dillingham’s name is starting to surface in league circles as a potential trade candidate. ESPN recently pegged him as the Timberwolves' most likely player to be moved, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s a former lottery pick with clear upside, but he needs minutes - and right now, those minutes just aren’t available in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves took a calculated swing when they moved future assets to draft Dillingham. But with Conley still playing at a high level and Hyland carving out a role, the path to meaningful playing time has narrowed significantly. Sometimes, fit matters more than potential, and Dillingham might benefit from a fresh start in a system that can give him the developmental reps he needs.
What’s Next?
Whether it’s Sacramento, Washington, Dallas, or another team looking to invest in a young guard with scoring upside, Dillingham’s future may lie outside of Minnesota. That doesn’t mean the Timberwolves missed on the pick - it means they’re in a win-now window, and Dillingham’s timeline might not match.
The talent is still there. The flashes from his rookie year, the handle, the creativity - those tools didn’t vanish.
But in a league that moves fast, especially for young guards, opportunity is everything. And right now, Rob Dillingham is running out of it in Minnesota.