The Rob Dillingham Thread

[minimus]

Finch has been playing bad defenders such as Nowell, DLo, Beasley and Milton. It was not the biggest issue. The problem was that Nowell and Milton could not shoot threes at all. DLo could not involve others players, Beasley and Nowell were black holes in offense. If Rob learns how to be a team offense engine - he will have time how to be positive in defense.

Well Finch didn't really have any better options to those guys either.
The minute he got a semi-competent defender in NAW, who was just a salary throw in to the Conley trade at the time, he played him a lot. NAW has the same offensive issues as Nowell and Milton, possibly even worse.
If TSJ can be a solid defender he has a real shot at stealing a lot of NAW's minutes.

Rob is gonna have to give a helluva better effort on that end in the pros though, he was one of the worst defenders in the country in college.

Yeah, agree. Finch played guys who hurt our offense such as Anderson. Lets hope that Rob will only hurt defense while elevating whole team offense. I mean I dont want MIN coaching staff playing guys who actively hurt BOTH offense and defense such as Milton, Nowell. Too many times it was 8-10 minutes when MIN could not make an open three, lost the ball and gave up multiple open layups/threes on other end.

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

One underrated aspect of Rob development is small things, aka winnings plays. I list few of them:

- run back in transition
- foul with purpose, foul hard
- dont caught ball watching, fight for position, boxout and rebound
- get long rebounds
- win 505/50, loose balls

Only if he makes these plays consistently he will be a positive defender.

[Loaf_of_bread]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

[winforlose]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

I am not entirely sure this is true. I have no specific evidence to the contrary, but I do wonder how many GMs would be eager to tie up two years of draft assets to secure the 8th overall pick in a weak draft. In fact, it was The Spurs willingness to move on from this draft and utter lack of interest in players like RD that made it possible.

[Nick K]

Watch on YouTube

One underrated aspect of Rob development is small things, aka winnings plays. I list few of them:

- run back in transition
- foul with purpose, foul hard
- dont caught ball watching, fight for position, boxout and rebound
- get long rebounds
- win 505/50, loose balls

Only if he makes these plays consistently he will be a positive defender.

Good post! Could not agree more.

[minimus]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

Read on Twitter

[shrink]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

I am not entirely sure this is true. I have no specific evidence to the contrary, but I do wonder how many GMs would be eager to tie up two years of draft assets to secure the 8th overall pick in a weak draft. In fact, it was The Spurs willingness to move on from this draft and utter lack of interest in players like RD that made it possible.

You’re right. I’ve been traveling and listen to a lot of podcasts commenting on the trade. It’s surprising to me that while most say Connelly gave up nothing, some are saying that’s way too much! One even joked, “it will give the Spurs extra ammunition in 2029 when Ant asks for a trade.” Not funny.

[winforlose]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

I am not entirely sure this is true. I have no specific evidence to the contrary, but I do wonder how many GMs would be eager to tie up two years of draft assets to secure the 8th overall pick in a weak draft. In fact, it was The Spurs willingness to move on from this draft and utter lack of interest in players like RD that made it possible.

You’re right. I’ve been traveling and listen to a lot of podcasts commenting on the trade. It’s surprising to me that while most say Connelly gave up nothing, some are saying that’s way too much! One even joked, “it will give the Spurs extra ammunition in 2029 when Ant asks for a trade.” Not funny.

So there are two schools of thought. The first is that a top 10 pick is a top 10 pick. It doesn’t matter the draft class because 90% of players are lottery balls anyway. You just have a better chance with a lottery pick of getting a good player than a non lottery pick, but everything outside of the Wemby level talents are crapshoots.

The second school of thought is that draft classes are weaker or stronger depending on the year, and that a 2024 8th overall is less valuable than a pick in a better draft class.

There is no guarantee that the 2031 pick will be a lottery pick, much less 8th or better. So in that regard the Wolves came out ahead. But, they had very few picks left to work with given that 25 and 27 are unprotected, 26 has an unprotected pick swap, and 29 is only protected 1-5. To commit both 30 and 31 is not a decision to be made lightly. While we might very well win on value, we spent a very limited resource that might not have a positive return on investment.

Personally I like the move. We had a specific need, a clear window, and he could develop into a part of an excellent core for the next window. But I hate the notion that just because the picks are far in the future they have no value. They have significant value both now and in the future.

[minimus]

Can Mike Conley teach Rob this?

Read on Twitter

or this?

Read on Twitter

[Slim Tubby]

I have a feeling other gm's after the trade were thinking: "Whoa, I would have offered a '29 or '30..."

Nobody had a clue other than TC

I am not entirely sure this is true. I have no specific evidence to the contrary, but I do wonder how many GMs would be eager to tie up two years of draft assets to secure the 8th overall pick in a weak draft. In fact, it was The Spurs willingness to move on from this draft and utter lack of interest in players like RD that made it possible.

You’re right. I’ve been traveling and listen to a lot of podcasts commenting on the trade. It’s surprising to me that while most say Connelly gave up nothing, some are saying that’s way too much! One even joked, “it will give the Spurs extra ammunition in 2029 when Ant asks for a trade.” Not funny.

We'll see who is laughing in 2-3 years when Dillingham is tearing it up and Castle blossoms into the next Kris Dunn.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[BlacJacMac]

I expect the Spurs will trade both the pick and swap well before their due dates.

The trade for them was all about gaining assets to either trade up in a draft or to acquire a player that fits with Wemby when they become available through trade.

[thinktank]

I watched a bunch of that Dillingham full season tape.

He’s a home run hitter, as Finch likes to say. It’s either a huge miss or a huge make. Not much in between. Most shots were very high difficulty. Lotta airballs, lotta tough makes.

[Guidus88]

Read on Twitter

second one is the most exciting Twolves moment of the last 2 decades (probably the most exciting in Twolves history)

[shrink]

The size of Dillingham’s contract adds a little insurance.

I have high hopes for him, but it may take a little time for him to develop his body and his defense for playoff basketball. Imagine a scenario though where everything is clicking, MIN is leading the West in January, but suddenly Mike Conley is lost for the season. Dillingham, Ant and MacLaughlin aren’t providing enough playmaking, and we start dropping in the standings. Aside from the vet min, we don’t have any way to add a competent vet PG without trading away a key piece.

Dillingham is $6.2 mil contract could be traded for any player making less, including anyone other teams signed for the tMLE. He could be extremely attractive to many teams, that are tanking now, or who are tanking later because their season fell off the rails.

[winforlose]

The size of Dillingham’s contract adds a little insurance.

I have high hopes for him, but it may take a little time for him to develop his body and his defense for playoff basketball. Imagine a scenario though where everything is clicking, MIN is leading the West in January, but suddenly Mike Conley is lost for the season. Dillingham, Ant and MacLaughlin aren’t providing enough playmaking, and we start dropping in the standings. Aside from the vet min, we don’t have any way to add a competent vet PG without trading away a key piece.

Dillingham is $6.2 mil contract could be traded for any player making less, including anyone other teams signed for the tMLE. He could be extremely attractive to many teams, that are tanking now, or who are tanking later because their season fell off the rails.

There is no one behind him, especially if you let Monte go in free agency. We cannot add anyone but vet minimums going forward. RD will not be used as cap relief or short term injury insurance.

[Worm Guts]

Yeah, I have a hard time seeing a situation where we trade Dillingham for a player making less.

[KGdaBom]

I am not entirely sure this is true. I have no specific evidence to the contrary, but I do wonder how many GMs would be eager to tie up two years of draft assets to secure the 8th overall pick in a weak draft. In fact, it was The Spurs willingness to move on from this draft and utter lack of interest in players like RD that made it possible.

You’re right. I’ve been traveling and listen to a lot of podcasts commenting on the trade. It’s surprising to me that while most say Connelly gave up nothing, some are saying that’s way too much! One even joked, “it will give the Spurs extra ammunition in 2029 when Ant asks for a trade.” Not funny.

So there are two schools of thought. The first is that a top 10 pick is a top 10 pick. It doesn’t matter the draft class because 90% of players are lottery balls anyway. You just have a better chance with a lottery pick of getting a good player than a non lottery pick, but everything outside of the Wemby level talents are crapshoots.

The second school of thought is that draft classes are weaker or stronger depending on the year, and that a 2024 8th overall is less valuable than a pick in a better draft class.

There is no guarantee that the 2031 pick will be a lottery pick, much less 8th or better. So in that regard the Wolves came out ahead. But, they had very few picks left to work with given that 25 and 27 are unprotected, 26 has an unprotected pick swap, and 29 is only protected 1-5. To commit both 30 and 31 is not a decision to be made lightly. While we might very well win on value, we spent a very limited resource that might not have a positive return on investment.

Personally I like the move. We had a specific need, a clear window, and he could develop into a part of an excellent core for the next window. But I hate the notion that just because the picks are far in the future they have no value. They have significant value both now and in the future.

We're a win now team in need of a PG of the future. Getting a top 8 pick now by just giving up whatever in 30 and 31 is a complete no brainer. Not even worth thinking about.

[KGdaBom]

I watched a bunch of that Dillingham full season tape.

He’s a home run hitter, as Finch likes to say. It’s either a huge miss or a huge make. Not much in between. Most shots were very high difficulty. Lotta airballs, lotta tough makes.

When a player makes 48% from the field and 44% from three I don't care if 52% of his shots are airballs.

[KGdaBom]

The size of Dillingham’s contract adds a little insurance.

I have high hopes for him, but it may take a little time for him to develop his body and his defense for playoff basketball. Imagine a scenario though where everything is clicking, MIN is leading the West in January, but suddenly Mike Conley is lost for the season. Dillingham, Ant and MacLaughlin aren’t providing enough playmaking, and we start dropping in the standings. Aside from the vet min, we don’t have any way to add a competent vet PG without trading away a key piece.

Dillingham is $6.2 mil contract could be traded for any player making less, including anyone other teams signed for the tMLE. He could be extremely attractive to many teams, that are tanking now, or who are tanking later because their season fell off the rails.

If we end up trading Dilly for somebody making less that would have to mean he was one of the biggest busts in Wolves history. Not going to happen. No way in freaking hell.

[thinktank]

I watched a bunch of that Dillingham full season tape.

He’s a home run hitter, as Finch likes to say. It’s either a huge miss or a huge make. Not much in between. Most shots were very high difficulty. Lotta airballs, lotta tough makes.

When a player makes 48% from the field and 44% from three I don't care if 52% of his shots are airballs.

I would say there is a risk of his percentages dropping against taller, more athletic defenders.

This is because he was already high risk / reward in college. The risk rate will only go up in the NBA. The reward rate certainly will not go up.