Many people criticized the Minnesota Timberwolves for signing Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million contract in the offseason. And while you can't please everyone, Ayo's contract is aging wonderfully after seven games. Thus far, Dosunmu is averaging 15.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 53.1/48/81.8 shooting splits.
In my eyes, the logic behind signing Dosunmu to such a sizable contract (which I always defended) was that he's a scalable complementary guard. Meaning he can play a pure complementary role alongside stars of scale up if the situation calls for it. Dosunmu's all-around skill set is central to why he excels in this role.
We've seen both of these traits from Ayo this season, which underscores his value and importance to the Timberwolves.
Ayo Dosunmu's impact has been on full display early on this season
In the first four games with Anthony Edwards in the mix, Dosunmu primarily played a complementary role. He provided spot-up shooting, perimeter defense, transition scoring, rebounding, and connective playmaking. Ayo also showed his ability to scale up, recording 14 points and 10 assists.
Now with Edwards injured, Ayo has assumed a role in the starting lineup, and he's providing a more consistent scoring and creation boost while still providing the previously mentioned complementary skills. In the three games without Edwards, Dosunmu is averaging an impressive 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3 assists. On Saturday night, he helped keep the Timberwolves' offense afloat, scoring 27 points, while LaMelo Ball was limited by foul trouble.
Ayo's ability to pressure the rim gives the Wolves' 3-point-centric perimeter team a different element. Notably, he ranks in the 97th percentile for rim attempts per game according to Databallr.
Beyond his ability to scale up or down depending on the situation, Ayo's feel for the game and consistency are super valuable. You simply don't see Dosunmu make bad passes, take bad shots, or commit defensive lapses very often. While Ayo isn't great every game, he's been one of the Wolves' most consistently impactful players. His only game you could consider "bad" so far would be his nine-point, 4-for-10 night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Regardless, one bad game out of seven for a role player is about as consistent as it gets, especially given his high points. Without a doubt, Dosunmu has been ultra-consistent and impactful, making him well worth his $112 million price tag.
Players like Dosunmu, who can impact the game in multiple ways and scale up if needed, are constantly found on championship teams. This further explains why his contract was worth it for the Timberwolves.
Dosunmu's contract makes perfect sense with the rising cap
The reality is that $22.4 million a year is the going rate for a fringe starter or high-end bench player. Yes, $22.4 million a year and $112 million total seem jarring at first, but this isn't 2010 anymore—that's the price you need to pay for players like Ayo. Look at the contract that the Timberwolves signed Naz Reid to in 2025 as evidence.
Furthermore, his contract is ascending, and as the cap rises, it will only look more reasonable. He is making $19.3 million this season before climbing up to $25.4 million in the final year of his deal. As things stand, Dosunmu is the 108th highest-paid player in the league per Basketball-Reference this year. If we are ranking players, I'd argue he's closer to the top 75. At the very least, he's top 100. Therefore, this contract is fantastic value.
Ultimately, between the context of Dosunmu's contract and how well he is playing, it's hard to argue against his contract.
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