Timberwolves trade with Spurs to snag Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham

The “second apron” of the salary cap is going to tighten the screws on the Timberwolves this offseason and limit how they can reshape their roster.

So during the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday, Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly took advantage of one of the only levers left he could pull to upgrade a team he believes That he is a championship contender.

Conley made a trade, his third in three drafts with the team, and traded the only future first-round draft pick under NBA rules to the San Antonio Spurs to acquire the No. 8 pick and Kentucky combo guard Rob. Dillingham could be selected.

Dillingham can provide something that was lacking at times in the playoffs: quick offense. To make the move, the Wolves gave up a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a protected 2030 pick swap.

Dillingham said, “Playing with Anthony Edwards and the whole Timberwolves… it’s really a blessing because I get to learn from a lot of players and veterans who are really good.” “Helping them is just a plus for me.”

The Wolves still held on to the No. 27 pick in the deal, and with it came Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr., who can also add scoring prowess off the bench.

The 6-7 Shannon played last season while awaiting trial on rape and sexual assault stemming from an incident at a bar in Kansas in September. A jury acquitted Shannon earlier this month after a week-long trial in Kansas.

Dillingham, 19, averaged 15.2 points per game while shooting 44% from three-point range as a freshman, and the Wolves needed pop scoring to help him carve out a role with the Wolves right away off the bench. Needed

The move was an emphatic declaration from the organization that the Wolves believe they have a chance to win a championship next season, and perhaps for a few more years, as they have sacrificed more future draft capital while still being six and seven years away. . It doesn’t matter for a team that feels on the cusp of winning the title.

Dillingham will make just under $6.3 million next season as part of a rookie-level contract, bringing the total value of his contract to $28.6 million.

The move was a major commitment from the ownership, which will pay the luxury tax for the first time since the 2019–20 season. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Wolves’ luxury tax bill increased from $56 to $84 million the following season with the trade of Dillingham.

With the extensions of Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns this offseason, Conley, who dealt the team’s 2025, ’27 and ’29 picks to Utah for Rudy Gobert, is coming for the fences with the only bit of the former. Gone were the first-round draft capital they had to deal with the ’31 pick.

The Wolves’ ability to transfer their 2032 pick was going to be frozen under the rules regarding the luxury tax exceeding the second apron. The Wolves introduced that contention by trading the 2031 pick, since teams can’t deal first-round picks in consecutive years anyway. Per second apron rules, the Wolves will not be able to sign players (except their own free agents) to anything more than minimum contracts once free agency opens. So their only way to find an impact player who can help them now and in the next few years was to make a splash in this draft.

Dillingham’s strengths include his agility and his shooting; He has a quick release and can be a good finisher around the rim and has the transition ability to get past defenders.

His weaknesses are on the defensive end of the floor, and his thin frame (6-2, 164 pounds) makes him vulnerable to offense on that end of the floor. But the Wolves may be able to find a way to compensate, as they had the league’s No. 1 defense in 2023-24.

“I feel like I’m fast and can outrun others,” Dillingham said. “…You’re playing with a group of NBA players, so the players can’t really help out a lot because these are NBA players and they shoot shots. It’s going to be a lot easier to get past my defender and make plays with my teammates.” , and if they don’t help, it’s just a bucket.”

Dillingham can also work on reducing his turnover rate after averaging two in 23 minutes per game with Kentucky.

Shannon, 23, was a third-team All-America last season, remaining on the team even after suing for his right to continue playing until the legal process was completed. He averaged 23 points per game for the Illini, who won the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center. Shannon played five seasons in college, the first three at Texas Tech.

His strengths include his ability to drive to the rim and use his strength to get there. That strength also allows him to get to the free-throw line at a high rate (8.6 attempts per game last season). His weaknesses include a low release point and a shot that could still use some work improving efficiency (35% career three-point shooter).