If his Summer League play is of any indication, Kris Dunn is ready to contribute for the Minnesota Timberwolves now — but not in the role he was drafted to serve.
Over the years, the NBA Summer League has evolved into a playground for overreactions — a slew of games that mean absolutely nothing in the long run, but give basketball diehards an injection of professional basketball, while, more importantly, providing fans of distraught franchises a desperate glimmer of hope and a first glimpse of their highly-touted young prospects.
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, a franchise that has failed to realize the sweet taste of playoff basketball for 13 consecutive seasons, this upcoming year is the time for change.
A new coach, an ultra-talented young core, and an NBA-ready draft pick to boot, things are finally on the official upswing for this eternally-suppressed fan base.
However, the said NBA-ready draft pick caused some consternation surrounding Wolves nation on draft night.
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On one hand, Kris Dunn is a rare four-year college player whose mature frame, relentless defense, and dynamic slashing fits coherently with the skills their incumbent core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine brings on a nightly basis.
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On the other hand, he plays the same position — point guard — as the team’s most valuable and important player, Ricky Rubio.
His impact may be polarizing to non-Wolves fans, but to those who watch him game in and game out, they understand his irreplaceable impact as a playmaker and defender at the point of attack.
But with the addition of Dunn, many began to question the future of the Rubio-Wolves marriage. By drafting their “point guard of the future”, most assumed Ricky’s days in Minnesota was numbered.
It certainly didn’t help with all the external trade rumors surrounding the slender 6’4″ Spanish heartthrob in the days leading up to the draft.
For now, though, trade talks have fizzled, and the Wolves brass seems content to hang on to Rubio to see how the current core develops.
If Dunn’s Summer League performance thus far is of any indication, the move to not trade their current point appears to be the prudent choice.
The former Providence Friar has performed admirably in his two games in Las Vegas, wowing the compacity crowds with his acrobatic drives, body-contorting finishes and a contagious brand of on-court intensity.
He displayed many of the same attributes that made him an attractive prospect in college: he’s strong, he’s quick, and he affects the game on both ends of the floor.
Without a doubt, Dunn is at his best when he’s attacking the rack. He has a Dwyane Wade-ness to him in the way he splits pick-and-rolls at will and slithers through the tightest of cracks.
He utilizes his handle — albeit a bit sloppy at times — as a decoy of sorts, often showing the ball to his defender before making a quick change of direction toward the basket.
To compliment his slashing, Dunn is also a forceful finisher. And for a guard, he is a terrific rebounder, fighting for every loose ball offensively and defensively.
His chief weakness coming into the draft, his jump shot, has seen positive results thus far. Although his release is a tad slow and not the most aesthetically pleasing, he’s found ways to create space and knock down enough outside looks to keep the defense honest.
Thru 2 games, rookie @KrisDunn3 is scoring 24 PPG on 54.3% FG% to go with 7 RPG, 3 APG & 2 SPG for @Timberwolves.
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) July 11, 2016
At present, Dunn is a disruptive and aggressive defender. His long arms and no-chill intensity gives opposing ballhandlers problems in isolation situations.
However, in the Summer League games he has played in, he has been repeatedly torched in pick-and-roll situations, often going under on screens and conceding an open J.
As an off-ball defender, he’s usually too intent on gambling for steals and coming over for the weak-side block; thereby, giving up a slew of open catch-and-shoot attempts and hacking his way to 7.5 (!!!) personal fouls per game.
Offensively, Dunn actually looks best when he is playing off the ball and not initiating the offense. To be more specific, most his damage is done while receiving the ball off the catch in a dribble hand-off or side pick-and-roll situation.
Running the offense can be problematic for Dunn, as his aforementioned loose handle can serve as the root of his turnovers, especially when the opposing team applies full-court ball pressure on the physically imposing 22-year-old.
Looking forward to next season, Dunn can excel playing next to either Rubio or Tyus Jones. Whether he or LaVine becomes the sixth man, Dunn has the length and dynamic slashing to operate as a high-octane two-guard.
Moreover, Dunn’s defensive strengths will be accentuated playing alongside Rubio — an elite anticipation and thief himself.
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Of course, spacing will be an issue in a potential Rubio and Dunn backcourt, and such an alignment will only be viable if Wiggins and KAT become reliable 3-point snipers as soon as next season.
But what Kris Dunn brings is a change of pace to what Zach LaVine brings.
While the two-time Slam Dunk Champion is a proven, silky-smooth outside floor spacer and a terror running the lane in the open court, Dunn will provide the toughness and the drive-and-kick initiating skills Zach often lacks.
Of course, Summer League performances should always be met with a side of caution, as past Summer League MVPs include the immortal Glen Rice Jr. and the unflappable Josh Selby.
However, what Dunn has shown thus far does not deviate too drastically to what we already know, and have seen in college.
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More explicitly, he’s ready to contribute now — but in a role slightly different to what we anticipated initially.