Timberwolves trade up with Spurs to snare Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham

Timberwolves President Tim Connelly said a few days before the draft, he and coach Chris Finch were watching film of Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, and both of them got excited as they envisioned what Dillingham could bring to the Wolves with his scoring acumen and ability to break down a defense, something the Wolves were lacking at times in their run to the Western Conference finals.

A sobering reality came with that excitement, as Connelly didn’t think there would be a way for the Wolves to get Dillingham in the draft. But the night broke their way, and with the second apron of the salary cap about to clamp down on how the team can reshape their roster, Connelly pounced on one of the only ways the Wolves had left to make an impact on a contending roster by trading a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 unprotected first round pick to the Spurs to grab Dillingham at No. 8. Connelly didn’t mince words after the first round of the draft ended Wednesday night — the Wolves expect Dillingham to play right away in their rotation next season.

“He’s a guy who, from Day 1, is going to have a role and a responsibility,” Connelly said. “Certainly it’s going to be hard for him. But I don’t think you’re that aggressive in the top 10 [of the draft] with a guy you don’t think can play right away.”

Connelly didn’t have to trade the 27th overall pick the Wolves had coming into the night and with that pick, they grabbed Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr., who led the Illini to the Big Ten tournament title at Target Center in March.

The 6-7 Shannon played last season while awaiting trial for accusations of rape and sexual assault stemming from an incident in a bar in Kansas in September. A jury acquitted Shannon, who said the victim in the case mistook him for somebody else, earlier this month after a week-long trial in Kansas. Connelly said the organization looked into Shannon’s case and said it was a “shame that it’s even a footnote” on Shannon’s career.

“I think if you really dig, it’s a really unfortunate thing for a kid by all accounts … is a great kid,” Connelly said. “Oftentimes, the minute you’re accused you’re found guilty. Thankfully he went the legal process. He chose to go to trial because he knew he did nothing wrong. I just think it’s a shame he went through that and I think it’s a testament to who he is as a kid and his ability to play through a really tough distraction.”

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The Wolves were looking for ways to increase their offensive explosiveness after the Mavericks bottled them up at times in the playoffs, and Connelly didn’t think the Wolves would find that kind of instant impact player picking late in the draft. They were happy to see Shannon fall to complement the pick of Dillingham.

“We challenged ourselves this offseason. How do we get more athletic? How do we have more shot creation?” Connelly said. “And to be brutally honest we didn’t think we could achieved those things in the draft at 27. The way the night broke and the way the calls kind of developed, we were unbelievably excited to get a guy that we think is as talented as anybody in this draft.”

The move to get Dillingham was a loud-throated declaration from the organization that the Wolves feel their chance to win a championship is next season and perhaps for a few years after as they sacrificed more future draft capital, albeit six and seven years away. That doesn’t matter to a team that feels it is on the doorstep of winning a title.

Dillingham will make just under $6.3 million next season as part of the rookie-scale contract, with the total value of his contract being worth $28.6 million.

The move was a big commitment from 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 went up from $56 to $84 million next season with the trade for Dillingham.

“Ownership was fantastic,” Connelly said. “Certainly any time you’re aggressive there’s financial realities. We think we have a chance. We’re at the big table, so it’s not time to get scared now.”

With extensions to Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns coming onto the books this season, Connelly, who dealt the team’s 2025, ‘27 and ‘29 picks to Utah for Rudy Gobert, swung for the fences with the only bit of first-round draft capital he had to deal in the ‘31 pick. The Wolves ability to move their 2032 pick was about to be frozen under the rules of exceeding the second apron of the luxury tax. The Wolves rendered that moot by trading the 2031 pick, since teams can’t deal first-round picks in consecutive years anyway.

The Wolves also won’t be able to sign players (except their own free agents) to anything besides minimum contracts once free agency opens, per second apron rules. So one of their lone avenues for finding an impact player who can help them now and in the next few years was to make a splash in this draft.

“I don’t how we can add this level of talent via trades unless we want to give up core guys,” Connelly said. “I don’t know how.”

Dillingham, 19, averaged 15.2 points per game while shooting 44% from three-point range and appears a part of the team’s succession plan once 36-year-old point guard Mike Conley retires. Connelly described Dillingham as a “one [point guard] who’s a bucket.”

Among Dillingham’s strengths are his quickness and his shooting; he has a fast release and can be a good finisher around the rim and is shifty in his ability to get past defenders.

“I feel like I’m quick and I can get past dudes,” Dillingham said. “… You’re playing with a bunch of NBA players, so players can’t really help off a lot because these are NBA players and they knock down shots. Getting past my defender and making plays with my teammates will be way easier, and if they don’t help, it’s just a bucket.”

His weaknesses are on defense, and his thin frame (6-2, 164 pounds) make him vulnerable to attack on that end of the floor.

Shannon, 23, was a third-team All-America last season, staying on the team after suing for his right to continue playing while the legal process played out. 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 can still use some work in improving efficiency (35% career three-point shooter).

Round two of the draft continues Thursday, but the Wolves likely made their most significant move of the offseason Wednesday night.

”We weren’t too optimistic when the night started and we were lucky enough to obtain a pick and get a kid we think can really help us,” Connelly said.