Rob Dillingham knows he is “blessed” to be joining Minnesota, a team that made the NBA Western Conference Finals last season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Often a top 10 draft pick will be on a rebuilding team that could be years away from contending for a championship. Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham went eighth in the recent NBA draft but he went to Minnesota — the team that lost to Dallas in the Western Conference Finals this season.
Minnesota traded No. 1 picks in 2030 and 2031 to San Antonio to acquire Dillingham and put him on the same team as NBA all-stars Karl-Anthony Towns, the No. 1 overall pick out of UK in 2015, and Anthony Edwards.
Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly made it clear he expects Dillingham to help the Timberwolves immediately.
“I don’t think you move as aggressively as this and sit on him,” Connelly said after the draft. “He’s a guy that, from Day 1, is going to have a role and responsibility, certainly it’s going to be hard for him, but I don’t think you’re that aggressive in the top 10 with a guy you don’t think can play right away.”
Dillingham called it a “blessing” that Minnesota was willing to make this move to get him.
“It shows that they trust me and they obviously are trusting in me to develop. If they trust in me, that’s all I needed. I feel that’s all I needed from any team,” Dillingham said. “Them showing me is even more of a blessing. I get to play with way better players and learn from them.”
Dillingham said he had been working his entire life hoping to have a chance like he now has with Minnesota.
“Playing with Anthony Edwards and the whole Timberwolves … they were in the Western Conference Finals. So it’s really just a blessing because I get to learn from a lot of players and veterans and players that are real good. Them helping me is just a plus for me,” he said. “I didn’t really get to work out with them, but I used to see Ant at (Overtime Elite) a lot, for sure.”
2 Responses
Most star players end up on the cellar dweller teams, which I have always felt is an unjust draft process with regards to giving the players a fair deal.
Dillingham certainly got the best scenario possible and he is sharp enough to know it. A weak team may have given him more minutes, but a losing environment in a loser team is a tough way to start.
I seldom look at pro stats but do check to stats on Anothony Davis, Towns, Booker & Darius Miller. They played on 2 excellent teams. Miller played for a couple years or so & went overseas where he starred & then NO wanted him back for a few years. The other players are some of the best in the NBA. DeMarcus Cousins was one of my favorites.
It’s really disgusting that UK had so many outstanding players but were derailed from the Run the FF by the fraud after he stole the Title in 2015.
Dilly did land on a good team. Conley is one of the most underrated point guards in the league, but he is getting kinda long in the tooth. Dilly needs to focus on 3 things…improve his defense, reduce his turnovers, and make everyone on an already good team…better. With Gobert, Towns, and McDaniels, Dilly can become a pick and roll specialist. If Ant’s man becomes the help guy, then feed Ant all day long. I would expect to see Dilly get 20 minutes a game his first season. His goals should be 10 ppg, 10 apg, 5 rpg, 2 spg, 2 topg and not foul out by season’s end. He will have to toughen up, keep his ego in check, and not fall victim to his newfound wealth. It’s a lot to expect, but Minnesota didn’t give up 2 first round draft picks without having a relatively immediate payoff. He could help the TWolves get to the finals next year. I would think that would be payoff received and then some.