Timberwolves exercise options on former first-round picks

The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up the third-year options for guards Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., the team announced in a press release.

The decisions guarantee Dillingham’s $6,889,320 and Shannon’s $2,801,640 salaries for the 2026/27 season. They will both be eligible for rookie-scale extensions after that season ends.

Selected out of Kentucky with the eighth pick in last year’s draft, Dillingham appeared in 49 games as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 10.5 minutes per night while shooting 44.1% from the field and 33.8% from three-point range.

Shannon, the 27th pick out of Illinois, got into 32 games and put up 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per night with .482/.355/.810 shooting splits.

Both players may see increased minutes this season as Minnesota relies more on its younger guards to ease the strain on 38-year-old Mike Conley. The loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency should also open up some more backcourt minutes.

We’re tracking all the 2026/27 rookie scale option decisions here. They are due by October 31.