2 days Ago By Chris Hine
The "second apron" of the salary cap is about to clamp down on the Timberwolves this offseason and limit how they can reshape their roster. So during the first round of the NBA draft Wednesday, Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly took advantage of one of the only remaining levers he could pull to upgrade a team he and ownership believe is a championship contender. Connelly swung a trade, his third in three drafts with the team, and dealt the only future first-round draft pick he could under NBA rules to the San Antonio Spurs to grab the No.
8 pick and select Kentucky combo guard Rob Dillingham. Dillingham can provide something the Wolves were lacking at times in the playoffs — instant offense. To make the move, the Wolves gave up a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a protected 2030 pick swap.
They still held on to the No. 27 pick in the deal. Dillingham, 19, averaged 15.
2 points per game while shooting 44% from three-point range as a freshman and should have a role with the Wolves right away off the bench given the Wolves need for scoring pop. The move 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 slightly less than $6.3 million next season as part of the rooki.
