Donte DiVincenzo will open the 2025/26 season as the Timberwolves‘ starting point guard, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
The move means that veteran point guard Mike Conley will shift to a bench role, though he’ll remain a “vital piece” for the team, according to Haynes.
Conley has appeared in 171 games for the Wolves since being acquired from Utah in a mid-season trade at the 2023 deadline, starting 164 of them. The seven-game stretch in which he came off the bench occurred in January 2025, when head coach Chris Finch made this same lineup change, with DiVincenzo starting in Conley’s place. That experiment came to an end when DiVincenzo injured his toe and was sidelined for over a month.
Conley, who is entering his 19th year in the NBA, turned 38 earlier this month and can no longer be counted on to regularly play 30-35 minutes per night at this stage in his career. He averaged a career-low 24.7 MPG last season and contributed 8.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per contest. It looks like removing him from the starting five is a way for Finch and the Wolves to better manage his playing time rather than a signal that they don’t trust him in that role anymore.
For what it’s worth, the five-man lineup consisting of DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert had a +4.6 net rating in 213 minutes last season. That same group with Conley in DiVincenzo’s place posted a +3.2 mark in 714 minutes.
Trade Randle and Donte D for a good starting PG and and a younger PF
who will fill for Randle?
Either Naz Reid will be the full time PF and aquire another PF. Or find one good one in the trade
Rob Dillingham never getting a chance lol
He is years away from being ready.
AE is not a PG. Running point is not the same as playing the position. TWolves don’t get that. Donte is not a PG either. Do the TWolves run an offense?? Or is it just AE isolation. Imo with AE, Randle, Rudy, McDaniels, Reid, Donte. You are better with a real PG. Conley at this point is a backup.
DDV is better off ball. Catch and shoot player. Should have fired Finch and brought in someone who has the guts to play a deeper lineup. Bones Hyland might be the answer to start at PG.