Integrating Rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shannon Jr. into the Wolves Roster
Following one of the greatest seasons in team history and with very limited cap space heading into free agency, and limited future draft picks, the Timberwolves found themselves in a challenging position to add top end talent. A team who appeared in the conference finals and traded into the Top 10 the following draft has not happened in at least twenty years. The closest thing to it was when Boston drafted Tatum 3rd overall with the Brooklyn Pick after losing the conference finals just a month prior. Tim Connelly and crew did what nobody expected by trading away future picks in order to get the 8th overall pick from the San Antonio Spurs and selecting Rob Dillingham. With our remaining pick, Terrance Shannon Jr. was picked 27th overall by the Timberwolves.. It is rare for rookies to join championship-level teams and immediately get significant playing time, but it seems that will be the case for the Wolves next season. If you’re completely unfamiliar with these players, this next section is for you.
Freshman guard out of Kentucky, Rob "Wit Da Shifts" Dillingham, stood at 6'1" without shoes and weighed 164 pounds at the combine. He logged the fifth most minutes of all Wildcats, despite coming off the bench and was a focal point on offense whenever in the game. Dillingham was an ace as a shooter, boasting over 44% from beyond the three-point line at a high volume, with over 10 three-pointers attempted per 100 possessions. Among all collegiate players logging similar or higher minutes, he was one of only nine to achieve these statistics. Dillingham scored in double figures in 27/32 games and his career high was 35 vs. Tennessee, who finished first in the SEC. His playing style can be quickly described as a shifty on ball guard who creates space and scores with the best of them, and also has immense value as an off ball three-point shooter.
Junior guard out of Illinois, Terrance Shannon Jr., measured 6'5.75" without shoes and 219 pounds at the combine. He was the number one player on the scouting report for opposing teams. He bounced between Texas Tech and Illinois but found his home these past two seasons. No other college player this season matched Terrance Shannon Jr.'s combination of dunk attempts, close 2-point attempts, free throw attempts, and 3-point attempts. Averaging 23 points per game, he scored above 20 points in over 68% of games. Led the Illini to the Elite Eight, achieving their greatest finish in 20 years before losing to the eventual champions. In the Big 10 tournament, he averaged 34 points across three games, including a career-high 40 points against Nebraska. Shannon Jr’s playing style can be described as a three-level scoring, rim attacking wing who is growing as a 3 point shooter and tends to defend the other team's best guy.
Looking at the Timberwolves at large, the strengths were quite obvious. Minnesota excelled across every facet of defense, boasting the league's top overall defense and ranked highly in opponent field goals and three-pointers made. They were second in limiting opponent points in the paint, and were fifth and sixth in blocks and steals, respectively. Where the team noticeably struggled, particularly highlighted in the playoffs, was in scoring. Their offense ranked in the bottom half of the league in field goal attempts, three-point attempts, and points per game. While the team had several players shooting over 40% from three-point range and two averaging over 20 points per game during the regular season, their lack of consistent scoring threats became apparent in the playoffs, despite their strong defensive abilities.
No tweaking of the starting lineup going into the 2024-25 season but there are some changes off the pine. 6th Man of the Year Naz Reid and teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be the only two returning bench players who played significant minutes. Chris Finch’s anti-anxiety medication, Kyle Anderson, is headed to Golden State. Monte Morris is off to Phoenix. Longtime bench icon Jordan McLaughlin is headed to Sacramento where hopefully he can get some real playing time. Coach Finch and his staff typically run a nine-man rotation during the regular season, occasionally expanding to ten based on game score and player rest between games. Apart from the additions of Dillingham and Terrance Jr., the team made two other acquisitions in free agency: Joe Ingles. Despite being 37 years old, Ingles shot lights out last season for the Magic making him a valuable asset for the bench. PJ Dozier, in his second stint with the Wolves and I’d bet he serves as out-of-the-rotation roster depth in case of injuries. This leaves 1-2 open bench roles going into next year.
If we look at Rob Dillingham’s potential role on this team, no question he’s a day one in the rotation guy. Lacking a true backup point guard, and no Kyle Anderson, this team needs somebody to handle the ball alongside Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Dillingham will be given the opportunity to score when accompanied by other bench players. When playing off-ball next to Ant or Conley, he’ll excel at relocating around the court and getting open, given his efficiency as a catch-and-shoot player. When given an opportunity to create for himself, pick & roll or iso, his half-court speed will translate to the NBA. His potential to run alongside Ant, with both capable of creating their own shots, will form an electric duo that the team needed against Dallas in the Conference Finals. I don’t buy into the hype that Dillingham is a selfish playmaker. In college, his role was primarily to come off the bench and score. He would make the right passes when teammates were open, but his sole job was to score. His main weakness, being undersized, could limit his defensive potential. From the film I've watched, he struggled to navigate around off-ball screens and faced challenges defending one-on-one due to his stature. Luckily enough, going to the biggest team in the NBA, Minnesota’s size and defensive energy will be able to cover up these shortcomings and produce the right habits for Dillingham.
Terrance Shannon Jr. faces a competitive path to playing time. He contends directly with previous draft picks Jaylen Clark and Leonard Miller for immediate playing opportunities. While Josh Minott also factors into the mix, Shannon Jr. has the advantage, and since Miller plays a different position, this reduces competition for the same minutes. Clark is not in the same echelon offensively but definitely outweighs Shannon Jr. on the defensive end. I’d imagine these two split minutes in the beginning of the year, but as the season progresses, it is offense this team needs. Shannon Jr.’s ability to get downhill was not on the bench last season, which opens the door to his playing time. Think about how Ant’s game of attacking the rim unlocks the offense. If we see Shannon Jr. getting on the court this season I’d imagine his playing style can do the same. Shannon Jr. has the size and athleticism to make impacts on both sides of the ball early in his career. The questions surrounding him: can he alter his role from being ‘the guy’ to being a ninth or tenth guy? I believe he can. Considering he’s a wing and showed he can play off-ball at Illinois, whose role had grown each year in college, I don’t see why he cannot perform the same style with limited opportunities. The best way to earn minutes in the NBA is by competing on defense, and he showed a willingness to defend in college. If that translates through Summer League and training camp, coupled with his advanced offensive skills, #00 will be on the court.
When it comes to the 2024-25 Timberwolves we know for certain the first 7 guys touching the court, the starting 5 plus Naz & NAW. Joe Ingles is expected to get minutes due to his shooting ability and chemistry with Conley and Gobert. Departures of players like Kyle, JMac, and Monte open up the depth chart, creating opportunities for existing players and the new additions to earn minutes. Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shannon Jr. both have skill sets this team needed last season. Dillingham does have an easier path to seeing minutes due to the lack of point guards on the roster. The route for Shannon Jr’s will be harder next to Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark, but he has the edge in my opinion. Summer League starts tomorrow, July 12th, which will be our first shot to see how all of this may unfold. I’d bet this will be the most entertaining Minnesota Summer League since Tyus Jones almost led the team to a championship victory in 2015. Timberwolves fans should be excited about their 2024 draft class. In terms of regular season basketball, this duo will be a huge boost to the Wolves bench and offense as a whole. Two players capable of attacking their way to a bucket will make life easier for Anthony Edwards. After watching their Introductory Press Conference, both players seem poised and excited to play a role on a contending team. Who knows, the last time Minnesota drafted two players in the first round, it turned out alright…
