There are a lot of questions about the Minnesota Timberwolves' bench unit. Can Joan Beringer provide quality minutes? What exactly is Terrence Shannon Jr.'s role? Who will round out the rotation? However, one player who there shouldn't be any questions about is Ayo Dosunmu.
With the addition of Jonathan Kuminga, Ayo is set to slide back into a bench role, and he gives the Timberwolves a high-end sixth man. Of course, after Naz Reid's memorable tenure with the Wolves, fans are well aware of what a luxury it is to have a starting-level player off the bench. Before signing Kuminga, this sixth-man void was a grave concern.
For this reason, Ayo may have come off the bench before the Kuminga signing. Nevertheless, having a hyper-efficient 14.8-point-per-game scorer off the bench is ideal.
Dosunmu is the perfect complementary player. He can fit in seamlessly with the Wolves' established talent thanks to his spot-up shooting, defense, and connective playmaking. Still, he can scale up and provide high-level shot creation largely due to his ability to pressure the rim. The ultimate example of this creation ability is his 43-point game in the first-round against the Denver Nuggets. Plus, according to Basketball Index, Dosunmu ranked in the 95th percentile for rim shot creation last season.
Ayo's creation chops will be vital to the Wolves' second unit. His complementary skill set could also allow him to close games alongside Minnesota's star talent. By all accounts, Dosunmu gives the Timberwolves a super consistent and impactful role player off the bench.
Ayo Dosunmu gives an uncertain bench unit some certainty
As noted, the Timberwolves' bench has some clear volatility. Frankly, outside of Ayo, it's unclear who the Wolves can consistently count on for high-quality minutes. With ample growth, Shannon and Beringer could establish themselves as high-end rotation players. The proof will ultimately be in the pudding, though, and young players are inherently pretty erratic.
For now, Dosunmu is the only reserve player whom the Timberwolves definitively know they can count on for reliable bench production. Between his creation, defense, shooting, and basketball IQ you can always count on Ayo to make an impact. Having a player with such a well-rounded skill set off the bench is a massive luxury.
Dosunmu can help ensure the Timberwolves stay afloat when either Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball is off the court.
While Shannon is a gifted self-creator and scorer, he needs to prove that he can do so consistently and efficiently. There are also reasonable concerns about Shannon's role given the Wolves' established talent. If Shannon doesn't prove to be ready for a sizable role, Ayo will give the Wolves a high-level bench scorer and gifted creator.
And if Shannon grows as a creator, Dosunmu's complementary skill set can help pave the way for him to scale up. Even in this scenario, Dosunmu's spot-up shooting and transition scoring will allow him to produce at a high level.
Whether in a classic bench scorer role or mainly playing a pure complementary role, Ayo will consistently impact winning and give the Timberwolves' bench a boost this season. Regardless of how exactly he scores, it can be written in pen that Dosunmu will be one of the league's most productive and impactful bench players.
Simply put, there should be no concerns about Dosunmu's impact. For a team with questions about their bench unit and even how their starting lineup will mesh, Dosunmu's value is undeniable.
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