I'm not Kekgeek's grades G15 Wiz@Wolves

[Q-is-here]

To me there are three things Dillingham needs to do to become a net positive player in an NBA rotation.

1. To Kekgeek's point, he has to be able to put the ball in the hoop. His defense and floor general skills will never be good enough to overcome poor shot making.

2. He has to find one or two ways to impact the game defensively and not be a huge negative on that end. I think he's actually doing three things pretty well right now on that end: 1) Pesky ball pressure; 2) quick hands that leads to steals; and 3) chasing down long rebounds, something only DDV is good at among the other guards and wings.

3) Have an assist to turnover ratio of at least 2:1.

So far he grades out as an F in #1, an A in #2, and an F in #3. He's got a loooooong ways to go.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think Rob can become a decent player. But we're in a win now mode and we can't take the chance he never makes it. Sell while he still has decent value and solve the PG or defensive big issue.

[FNG]

I think Rob can become a decent player. But we're in a win now mode and we can't take the chance he never makes it. Sell while he still has decent value and solve the PG or defensive big issue.

But does he have decent value, Cool? When I listen to talk on NBA Radio, I don't hear many positives about him. I don't think we get back anything close to what a 20-year-old lottery pick should yield. I'm frustrated by his inconsistent play and poor shooting, but I'm a big Tom Crean fan, and he still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. I think we have to play this one out.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think Rob can become a decent player. But we're in a win now mode and we can't take the chance he never makes it. Sell while he still has decent value and solve the PG or defensive big issue.

But does he have decent value, Cool? When I listen to talk on NBA Radio, I don't hear many positives about him. I don't think we get back anything close to what a 20-year-old lottery pick should yield. I'm frustrated by his inconsistent play and poor shooting, but I'm a big Tom Crean fan, and he still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. I think we have to play this one out.

That's a good question FNG. But he's just a baby in the NBA world, he may not bring back immense value but packaged with something else could result in a nice step forward for us. I have to believe there is a team trying to build that would take a chance with him I really want us to shoot our shot this year and go for it. We will be able to take other shots in the future but it's time this market goes after the golden goose.

[Lipoli390]

I think Rob can become a decent player. But we're in a win now mode and we can't take the chance he never makes it. Sell while he still has decent value and solve the PG or defensive big issue.

But does he have decent value, Cool? When I listen to talk on NBA Radio, I don't hear many positives about him. I don't think we get back anything close to what a 20-year-old lottery pick should yield. I'm frustrated by his inconsistent play and poor shooting, but I'm a big Tom Crean fan, and he still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. I think we have to play this one out.

That's a good question FNG. But he's just a baby in the NBA world, he may not bring back immense value but packaged with something else could result in a nice step forward for us. I have to believe there is a team trying to build that would take a chance with him I really want us to shoot our shot this year and go for it. We will be able to take other shots in the future but it's time this market goes after the golden goose.

I don’t have a good sense of Rob’s market value. We don’t have a lot of options to package him either. I think it makes sense for our front office to check in with other teams on Rob’s value and knowing what we know about TC it’s highly likely he’s done that. Whatever Rob’s value, I doubt it’s enough to get a player who moves the needle for this team from playoff team to championship contender. Jaden seems to have taken the leap. Naz is getting back into his groove. Randle is having a great, perhaps career, season. Donte seems to have hit his stride - not as consistent as we’d like - but making a difference. That’s a heck of supporting case for Ant, which leads me to my main point — i.e., this team will only go as far as Ant takes them. If he becomes our Kobe or SGA, consistently dominating, then I believe this team can contend for a championship. I also think we’re too dependent on Rudy Gobert defensively, which MIGHT have been OK in his prime, but strikes me as problematic now. Yet, I think this can work with Rudy if Ant comes through - especially if Jaden continues to improve as I believe he will.

I think the odds of pulling off a trade for a player that produces a NET gain sufficient enough to propel us into championship contention without Ant taking it to the next level are no greater than the odds of Clark, TSJ or Rob breaking through by the second half of the season. I have yet to think of a player we could realistically get for Rob, Donte and Miller who would produce that net gain that would make us a championship contender.

[Lipoli390]

I think Rob can become a decent player. But we're in a win now mode and we can't take the chance he never makes it. Sell while he still has decent value and solve the PG or defensive big issue.

But does he have decent value, Cool? When I listen to talk on NBA Radio, I don't hear many positives about him. I don't think we get back anything close to what a 20-year-old lottery pick should yield. I'm frustrated by his inconsistent play and poor shooting, but I'm a big Tom Crean fan, and he still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. I think we have to play this one out.

We all know that TC is highly regarded by NBA insiders and most on this board for his draft acumen. TC and his front office team were so high on Rob that they traded all the way up to #8 to draft him. Meanwhile, as FNG notes, Tom Crean still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. Those two things, combined with what I see when I watch him, keep me very positive about Rob. To Cool’s point, it’s likely there are some NBA front office executives who are high on Rob for those same reasons. Again, I’d be shocked if TC hasn’t been kicking the tires with NBA execs on possible deals for Rob and other players on our roster not named Anthony Edwards.

[Coolbreeze44]

But does he have decent value, Cool? When I listen to talk on NBA Radio, I don't hear many positives about him. I don't think we get back anything close to what a 20-year-old lottery pick should yield. I'm frustrated by his inconsistent play and poor shooting, but I'm a big Tom Crean fan, and he still sees Rob as a very good NBA starter in the future. I think we have to play this one out.

That's a good question FNG. But he's just a baby in the NBA world, he may not bring back immense value but packaged with something else could result in a nice step forward for us. I have to believe there is a team trying to build that would take a chance with him I really want us to shoot our shot this year and go for it. We will be able to take other shots in the future but it's time this market goes after the golden goose.

I don’t have a good sense of Rob’s market value. We don’t have a lot of options to package him either. I think it makes sense for our front office to check in with other teams on Rob’s value and knowing what we know about TC it’s highly likely he’s done that. Whatever Rob’s value, I doubt it’s enough to get a player who moves the needle for this team from playoff team to championship contender. Jaden seems to have taken the leap. Naz is getting back into his groove. Randle is having a great, perhaps career, season. Donte seems to have hit his stride - not as consistent as we’d like - but making a difference. That’s a heck of supporting case for Ant, which leads me to my main point — i.e., this team will only go as far as Ant takes them. If he becomes our Kobe or SGA, consistently dominating, then I believe this team can contend for a championship. I also think we’re too dependent on Rudy Gobert defensively, which MIGHT have been OK in his prime, but strikes me as problematic now. Yet, I think this can work with Rudy if Ant comes through - especially if Jaden continues to improve as I believe he will.

I think the odds of pulling off a trade for a player that produces a NET gain sufficient enough to propel us into championship contention without Ant taking it to the next level are no greater than the odds of Clark, TSJ or Rob breaking through by the second half of the season. I have yet to think of a player we could realistically get for Rob, Donte and Miller who would produce that net gain that would make us a championship contender.

Lip, you make some good points here. My biggest worry is Ant ascending to the status you suggest he needs to. He can be great, but I think he's missing something that the true greats possess. He's our best shot, but also might be our limiting factor.

[Lipoli390]

That's a good question FNG. But he's just a baby in the NBA world, he may not bring back immense value but packaged with something else could result in a nice step forward for us. I have to believe there is a team trying to build that would take a chance with him I really want us to shoot our shot this year and go for it. We will be able to take other shots in the future but it's time this market goes after the golden goose.

I don’t have a good sense of Rob’s market value. We don’t have a lot of options to package him either. I think it makes sense for our front office to check in with other teams on Rob’s value and knowing what we know about TC it’s highly likely he’s done that. Whatever Rob’s value, I doubt it’s enough to get a player who moves the needle for this team from playoff team to championship contender. Jaden seems to have taken the leap. Naz is getting back into his groove. Randle is having a great, perhaps career, season. Donte seems to have hit his stride - not as consistent as we’d like - but making a difference. That’s a heck of supporting case for Ant, which leads me to my main point — i.e., this team will only go as far as Ant takes them. If he becomes our Kobe or SGA, consistently dominating, then I believe this team can contend for a championship. I also think we’re too dependent on Rudy Gobert defensively, which MIGHT have been OK in his prime, but strikes me as problematic now. Yet, I think this can work with Rudy if Ant comes through - especially if Jaden continues to improve as I believe he will.

I think the odds of pulling off a trade for a player that produces a NET gain sufficient enough to propel us into championship contention without Ant taking it to the next level are no greater than the odds of Clark, TSJ or Rob breaking through by the second half of the season. I have yet to think of a player we could realistically get for Rob, Donte and Miller who would produce that net gain that would make us a championship contender.

Lip, you make some good points here. My biggest worry is Ant ascending to the status you suggest he needs to. He can be great, but I think he's missing something that the true greats possess. He's our best shot, but also might be our limiting factor.

I have the same concern about Ant - our best shot but possibly our limiting factor. I’m not close to writing him off as our version of SGA, Kobe Curry or Wade who can take us to the NBA finals, but for the first time since he arrived here I now find myself questioning whether he will ever be that guy.

Correction: I’m having doubts for the first time since the end of his rookie season. I remember having doubts about him coming out of college. I didn’t think he had the love of the game or competitive drive to be great even though it was clear he had the talent. After watching him his rookie season I changed my view of him in that regard. However, now I’m beginning to think there’s something missing - not nearly as bad as I thought when we drafted him but something more subtle. He’s clearly a perennial all-star and one of the best players in the League. But does he have that next level in him to lead his team to a championship? I’m convinced he has the necessary talent and enough talent around him to make that happen. It’s up to him and the coaching staff to make it all come together.