When the New York Knicks made Donte DiVincenzo available for trade alongside Julius Randle in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t pass it up. DiVincenzo was a Wolves target when he was a free agent two offseasons ago, but Minnesota couldn’t convince him to sign. Instead, he signed a four-year $48.6 million contract with the Knicks.
It immediately became evident why the Timberwolves front office valued DiVincenzo; he has been one of their most impactful players.
DiVincenzo’s ON/OFF statistics present that well.
During the 189 minutes DiVincenzo has been ON the floor in Minnesota’s first seven games, the Wolves have a 117.6 offensive rating (ORTG) and 110.4 defensive rating (DRTG) for a 7.2 total Net Rating.
When DiVincenzo has been OFF the floor, the Wolves have an ORTG of 110.8 and DRTG of 116.7 for a minus-5.9 Net Rating.
The Wolves have been playing some of their best ball when Donte has been on the court.
DiVincenzo’s ON/OFF stats don’t particularly match his traditional statistical averages of 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting only 38.5% from the field and 33.3% from three. However, what Donte does that doesn’t show up in the box scores demonstrates how vital he is to Minnesota’s lineup success.
DiVincenzo is a high-feel player, fully immersed in many of the game’s nuances that make him one of the best role players in the league. He offers both positional and role versatility, allowing Chris Finch to deploy him into structure and remain comfortable. He creates offensive flow, an archetype Finch has yearned for since joining the Timberwolves.
Off-ball, Donte is a respected 3-point shooting threat. He can get high-difficulty shots off the catch at high efficiency and volume. DiVincenzo also uses his shooting gravity to get downhill and create advantages for himself and his teammates. To take advantage of this, the Wolves have structured DiVincenzo into stagger and pindown screens.
Off these screens and offensive sets come multiple options for Donte and those around him. Donte can:
- Flare out to receive a pass on the 3-point arc.
- Curl the screens with momentum downhill off the catch to attack the rim or drive and kick for others.
- Split the stagger screens as a cut to the basket.
- Take advantage of top-locking defenders and back door cut baseline behind the screen towards the rim.
- The Wolves can also use him as a decoy to open up opportunities for others, often as another screener.
DiVincenzo’s above-average shooting, ball handling, and passing skills make him lethal in these quick-decision possessions. He creates multiple options and gives the Wolves plenty of movement in their offense, which they have dearly missed over the past couple of seasons.
Minnesota’s backup point guard/initiator role is another area it improved in the offseason. It was a position of need where they had tried players like Jordan McLaughlin, Kyle Anderson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Monte Morris with limited success. They could never find a consistent and reliable option.
Trading up for Rob Dillingham addressed an immediate roster need. However, Chris Finch has elected not to play rookies early in the season. It’s a fitting decision, given that Rob is developing. Still, Rob will have an opportunity to play as the season progresses. The Wolves sought that reliability, and DiVincenzo filled the opening directly on Night 1.
Minnesota’s biggest asset within these lineups has been its ability to use multiple options with its DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards, and NAW trio. Edwards is the superior player of the three. Still, none of these players is significantly better at initiating the offense. Each player gives the Wolves even more balance within their offense and keeps defenses honest by offering multiple looks with two or three of DiVincenzo, Edwards, and Alexander-Walker in their lineups.
DiVincenzo has the instincts to make the correct reads and the internal clock to prevent the ball from sticking too much, giving him an edge over other players the Wolves have used in this role.
Many of DiVincenzo’s skills complement each other, allowing him to fit into multiple valuable roles across the offense. Because of this, he frequently showcases the ability to consistently attack closeouts, one of the most valuable skills a perimeter player can have in today’s NBA.
NBA teams game plan to force above-average 3-point shooters off the line into inefficient long 2-point shot attempts, uncomfortable rim attacks, and uncertain situations within the arc overall as a ball handler. Therefore, the ability to process quickly becomes even more valuable.
Decisiveness has been a big part of DiVincenzo’s game to begin the season, showcasing an innate ability to process quickly and keep things flowing offensively. He’s a ball-mover who aggressively looks for his shot along the way. He provides some of the connectivity lost with Kyle Anderson leaving for Golden State and the bench-scoring punch the Wolves have desperately sought.
DiVincenzo’s innate ability to adapt has been his strongest asset. Learning on the fly is vital in building synergy with a new team, especially since they traded for him weeks before pre-season games began.
Once DiVincenzo’s shooting numbers return to normal, there’s only more to look forward to. He has already highlighted his ability to mask the difficult growing pains a player can experience adjusting to a completely new roster.
