The Minnesota Timberwolves trading for Ayo Dosunmu seemed like a perfect move. Yes, giving up Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks is a bit of a steep price to pay for a quality role player on an expiring contract. Still, in my eyes, there's no denying this was worth filling a crucial need of guard depth.
Two games into his Wolves tenure, Dosunmu is proving why trading for him was a no-brainer. Thus far, Dosunmu is averaging 27.5 minutes, 16 points, 2.0 assists, 2.0 stocks, and a rebound on 54.2/45.5/100 shooting splits.
Monday's game was a standout performance for Dosunmu as he poured in 21 points (on 9-for-13 shooting), two assists, and two stocks. He was a key part of the Wolves' 138-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Between his downhill scoring, 3-point shooting, perimeter defense, and connective playmaking, Dosunmu gives the Wolves a little bit of everything.
Dosunmu is clearly a game-changer for the Wolves
Having a jack-of-all-trades player like Dosunmu is exactly what the Wolves need, and this has been a gaping hole since the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The most underrated part of Dosunmu's impact is his transition scoring. I'll be honest, I wasn't thinking about this after the trade -- but watching him especially against the Hawks, it's clear that his ability to get out in transition will be crucial. Notably, 10 of Dosunmu's points came in transition on Monday night, and he averages 5.3 points in transition.
Dosunmu has an ideal blend of size, speed, and strength, which makes him a powerful finisher both in transition and in the halfcourt. The Wolves have improved in transition, moving up to 13th in transition frequency and 10th in transition points. Nevertheless, Dosunmu is already helping the Wolves reach another level in transition, and he allows them to play at a faster pace.
I'd be remiss not to mention that Dosunmu's shot creation and finishing abilities in the halfcourt give the Wolves an element they've lacked in the backcourt for years. Impressively, per Basketball Index, Dosunmu ranks in the 96th percentile for rim shot creation.
Dosunmu's 3-point shooting is another vital part of his impact. Regardless, it was fair to wonder if his 45.1 percent from 3-point range was sustainable. Two games in with the Wolves, he has validated this shooting ability, netting 45.5 percent of his 3s. Having a dependable shooting option next to Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle is crucial, and it will ensure that Dosunmu maintains a massive role.
Defensively, Dosunmu takes the pressure off Jaden McDaniels, giving the Wolves a much-needed extra point-of-attack stopper. Opposing players are shooting just 41.3 percent from the field when defended by Dosunmu. And now that he's playing next to Rudy Gobert, he's able to gamble more to force turnovers. It's a super small sample size, but Dosunmu's stocks per game have increased by .9 since being traded to Minnesota.
Dosunmu's Swiss Army knife skill set off the bench is exactly what the Wolves need, and he could change the team's trajectory. Ultimately, if you're a Timberwolves fan, it's hard not to get excited about Dosunmu, and it's already clear to me that trading for him was another genius move for Tim Connelly.