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    • What We Learned About the Minnesota Timberwolves During the Lakers’ Preseason Shellacking
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    What We Learned About the Minnesota Timberwolves During the Lakers’ Preseason Shellacking

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    Rob Dillingham - Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (preseason)
    Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

    The Minnesota Timberwolves opened their 2024-25 preseason against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, in one of the most exciting Wolves preseason games I’ve seen in a long time. All 10 of Minnesota’s expected rotation players were waived except for Anthony Edwards and the centerpiece of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Julius Randle.

    Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each played 10 minutes. Joe Ingles played 11 and even Mike Conley got 8 opening half minutes before the Wolves’ 37-year-old leader put an end to it. The most minutes went to Josh Minott (29), Luka Garza (22), rookie – Terrence Shannon Jr (27) and rookie – Rob Dillingham (25).

    Minnesota Timberwolves dominate Los Angeles Lakers in preseason opener

    From start to finish, this was largely a Minnesota Timberwolves loss to the LA Lakers, with neither LeBron James nor Anthony Davis playing. Wolves’ top unit jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter and passed it to a second unit that nearly buried LA before the game even settled.

    With 10:09 left in the second quarter, Minnesota took a 46-25 lead on a Josh Minott 3-pointer, making it feel like the night might spiral out of control. That didn’t happen. The Lakers staged a comeback late in the second quarter and into the third quarter, even pushing the Wolves lead to two points (82-80) with 3:12 left in the period.

    The Minnesota Timberwolves then got their flow back, thanks to rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shannon Jr, along with third-year former second-round pick Josh Minott, who showed plenty of skill and rare size to match (see below). When the dust settled in Palm Springs, the Timberwolves walked away as winners, 124-107.

    But who cares what the preseason scores or results are? Let’s talk about what we really learned about the Wolves in their preseason opener.

    Lesson 1. Donte DiVincenzo is perhaps the biggest key in the KAT business

    Donte DiVincenzo -Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (preseason)
    Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

    I’m not making a key out of this just to be hyperbolic. Night in and night out, casuals who watch the Minnesota Timberwolves play — and those who just tick off scores or watch highlight clips — will see Julius Randle.

    The guy is a walking double/double who can create his own shot and serve as a secondary takeover option on a nightly basis. If there is too much defensive focus on Anthony Edwards or if he is unavailable for any reason, Julius Randle will be Minnesota’s go-to guy on offense.

    Related: Timberwolves get more (known) talent back in KAT Trade

    But it took half of practice basketball for Donte DiVincenzo to show exactly why President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly demanded he be part of the return package for KAT. DiVincenzo started, replacing Anthony Edwards.

    The newly minted, 27-year-old Wolf went 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from deep and finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in his 10 first half minutes. He showed a level of playmaking ability that will surprise most Wolves fans, and even in pre-season brought a tenacity and defensive IQ that could only be seen on TV.

    The Minnesota Timberwolves were in dire need of competent guard depth this offseason. Drafting Rob Dillingham was a good start and sets the franchise up for the future.

    However, to be a legitimate title contender, the Wolves needed a really good guard off the bench who could play lockdown defense, handle the ball and score in multiple ways. I’m not sure Tim Connelly could have found a better player for that role than DiVincenzo.

    Lesson 2: Josh Minott may take the next step for the Minnesota Timberwolves

    There were a few Minnesota Timberwolves players who stood out Friday night in a way others didn’t. Luka Garza was his normal productive self (7/13, 20 PTS, 9 REB, 1 STL, 1 AST), but he didn’t look like the dominant force we often see when he goes up against third-down NBA talent level.

    Part of that was due to the talent on display all around him, including on the perimeter, with Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr (more on this soon). But also right next to him. 6’8″ 2022 2nd round pick Josh Minott, out of Memphis, was in his bag last night.

    Related: Knicks finally made a trade offer for KAT that Timberwolves couldn’t refuse

    He hit from deep, drove to the hole, rose to the rim from multiple angles and blocked shots from inside and outside on defense. He finished 9 of 11 for 22 points, leading the team. His only two misses were three-pointers… but he made four more and finished 4-of-6 from downtown. He also added 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

    Every time the Lakers stormed back, Minott would drive a monster dunk down the lane or drop a three-pointer to halt LA’s momentum. We knew Minott’s development was going well, but he showed a level of play Friday night that most Minnesota Timberwolves fans didn’t know existed.

    Lesson 3: Rob Dillingham becomes a stud and must contribute immediately

    I imagine their playing time will fluctuate depending on how they play at certain points during the grueling NBA season. But there’s no doubt that 2024 No. 8 overall pick Rob Dillingham and No. 27 pick Terrence Shannon Jr. are good enough to help the Wolves now.

    • Rob Dillingham vs. Lakers: 25 min | 9/20 FG | 3/6 3PT | 21 PTS | 4AST | 1 REB | +10 +/-

    No doubt Rob Dillingham is pork belly, and he’ll have some growing pains to work through, though. He’s noticeably shorter than everyone else on the floor and he’s not an elite defender by any means. But this guy’s playmaking skills are next level and I’m not sure we’ve seen that since Stephon Marbury with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    Related: Why did the Minnesota Timberwolves trade Karl-Anthony Towns?

    Seriously, the Kentucky product is so fast that he’s usually gone before the defender can even react. That gives him the innate ability to get wherever he wants on the basketball floor, pretty much whenever he wants to get there.

    Mentioned in this article: Bronny James Donte DiVincenzo Josh Minott Los Angeles Lakers NBA Preseason Rob Dillingham

    More about: Minnesota Timberwolves games

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