Tim Connelly has a type. If you’ve followed the Minnesota Timberwolves front office for more than five minutes, you know they don't exactly play it safe. They didn't play it safe with the Rudy Gobert trade, and they certainly didn't play it safe when they mortgaged a chunk of 2030 and 2031 to grab Rob Dillingham at number eight.
People love to talk about the "star power" of a draft. But honestly, for a team like Minnesota that's already deep into the luxury tax, the draft isn't about finding the next Anthony Edwards. It's about finding cheap, high-ceiling labor that can survive next to him.
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The 2024 and 2025 cycles were weird. Really weird. You had a mix of older, "win-now" college stars and raw international projects that look like they were built in a lab. Let's get into what actually happened with these minnesota wolves draft picks and why the "bust" labels starting to fly around social media are probably premature—but not entirely baseless.
The Rob Dillingham Gamble: Why It’s Complicated
When the Wolves traded a 2031 unprotected first and a 2030 pick swap to San Antonio for the rights to Dillingham, the NBA world gasped. It was a massive price for a 6-foot-2 guard who weighs about as much as a wet paper bag.
But the logic was sound. Mike Conley isn't getting any younger. You've seen the games where the offense stagnates when Ant isn't on the floor. Dillingham was supposed to be the spark plug.
The reality? It's been a rough transition. As of early 2026, Rob has struggled to crack Chris Finch’s rotation consistently. He's shooting around 33% on two-point attempts, which is... not great. When you're an undersized guard who doesn't play high-level defense, you have to score. If the ball isn't going in, you're a liability.
Does that mean he's a bust? Kinda too early to say. But with rumors swirling that the front office is looking at veteran guards like Jose Alvarado or Kris Dunn, Dillingham's seat is getting warm.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and the "Steal" Narrative
If Dillingham is the project, Terrence Shannon Jr. was supposed to be the finished product. Drafted at 27th overall in 2024, Shannon came into the league as a 24-year-old rookie. He’s built like a linebacker and runs the floor like a deer.
Honestly, he’s been exactly what the Wolves needed. While Dillingham was riding the pine, Shannon was out there providing actual minutes during the 2025 playoff run. He’s shooting a respectable 38.2% from three and actually knows where to stand on defense.
People called him a "steal" because of the legal cloud that hung over him during the draft process. Once he was exonerated, his talent level clearly didn't match his draft position. He's a lottery talent that fell to the end of the first round. In a world where Minnesota is paying three guys near-supermax money, Shannon's rookie-scale contract is the most valuable asset they have.
Looking at the 2025 Newcomers: Beringer and Zikarsky
Fast forward to the 2025 Draft. The Wolves stayed local—well, local to their scouting department—and went back to the international well.
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Joan Beringer, the French center taken at 17, is basically a ball of clay. He's 6-foot-11, super young, and hasn't played a ton of high-level ball yet. But in the 15 games he's logged so far this season, the efficiency is eye-popping. He’s shooting over 70% from the field, mostly because he doesn't take shots further than three feet from the rim.
Then you have Rocco Zikarsky, the 7-foot-3 Australian giant they've got on a two-way deal.
- Joan Beringer: The "Gobert Lite" project. High motor, great wingspan, zero offensive game outside of dunks.
- Rocco Zikarsky: Pure size. He’s a mountain. If he can learn to move his feet on a pick-and-roll, he’s an NBA player for ten years.
- Rasheer Fleming: The 31st pick in 2025. He’s struggled with his shot, but the defensive versatility is there.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about these minnesota wolves draft picks is that they are all "replacements" for the current core. They aren't.
Tim Connelly isn't looking for a new Rudy or a new KAT (well, we know how that ended). He’s looking for insurance.
If the Wolves are going to stay under the "second apron" of the luxury tax, they can't afford to pay bench players $10 million a year. They need guys like Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark to become rotation staples. Speaking of Clark, the UCLA product has been a defensive menace when healthy. He’s the type of "winning player" that doesn't show up in a box score but makes life miserable for opposing point guards.
The Future Draft Capital Situation
Let's be real: the cupboard is pretty bare. Because of the Dillingham trade and the Gobert trade, the Wolves are basically spectators for several upcoming first rounds.
- 2026 First Round: They likely keep this, but Utah has swap rights depending on how the protections shake out.
- 2027 First Round: Gone. This belongs to Utah (or Phoenix, depending on the convoluted three-way trade mechanics).
- 2028 First Round: They actually own this one!
- 2029 First Round: Top-5 protected, otherwise it goes to Utah.
Basically, the Wolves have to hit on their second-rounders. They've been okay at this (see: Naz Reid, though he was undrafted, and Jaylen Clark), but the margin for error is razor-thin now.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Deadline
If you're tracking this team, keep your eyes on the trade market regarding the 2024 class. The Wolves are in a "win now" window that matches Anthony Edwards' prime. They don't have time to wait four years for a point guard to learn how to read a screen-and-roll.
- Watch the Dillingham rumors. If he gets packaged with a contract like Mike Conley's (for salary matching), it means the team has officially moved on from the "point guard of the future" experiment in favor of a "point guard for right now."
- Monitor Terrence Shannon Jr.'s health. He’s been out with an injury recently, and the bench scoring has cratered without him. His importance to the second unit cannot be overstated.
- Look at Beringer’s G-League minutes. If he starts dominating the Iowa Wolves, expect him to take some of the backup five minutes away from the veterans late in the season.
The Wolves have a very specific window. They've used their draft picks to buy "cheap potential," but the bill is coming due. Either these young guys step up into the rotation by the end of 2026, or they'll be used as trade bait to bring in the final pieces for a championship run.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the NBA G-League box scores for the Iowa Wolves. Pay close attention to Joan Beringer's defensive rotations and Rob Dillingham's assist-to-turnover ratio. These metrics will tell you more about the Timberwolves' trade deadline strategy than any "insider" tweet. If Dillingham's efficiency doesn't tick up by February, expect him to be wearing a different jersey by the All-Star break.