The Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty to worry about before free agency starts this summer, like actually finishing out this season and making (at least, hopefully) their third straight Western Conference Finals appearance.
When the summer does roll around, though, this Wolves team will have plenty of decisions to make about the direction of this team moving forward. But Ayo Dosunmu — whose contract expires at the end of the year — has made one of those decisions pretty easy for Tim Connelly and the front office: sign him to a longterm contract and do it before another team can snatch him up.
Dosunmu has been a revelation with the Wolves, and on Monday night, he posted his first triple-double with the franchise in a blowout win over the Mavericks. He's been exactly what the Timberwolves have been searching for in a guard, and there's no reason to let him walk in the offseason. He'll ask for a lucrative contract, and the front office should be willing to provide that. Why scour the market for something that you already have? See, this is the problem with modern dating. People always think there's something better out there — wait, sorry, that's for a different article.
Ayo Dosunmu is the perfect longterm starting guard for the Wolves
I think fans had a presumption about Dosunmu being a fine player but not a difference-maker before he came to Minnesota. Turns out, that wasn't his fault — it was the Bulls fault for not knowing how to maximize his skillset!
Meanwhile, Chris Finch is doing just that. Dosunmu's role as complementary ballhandler, defender, and shotmaker. He just complements every part of the Wolves' scheme so perfectly, and with the core of this team (presumably) returning next year, Dosunmu must be an obvious top priority in free agency. He's already done plenty to lock down (at least) a sixth man role next year.
Plus, Mike Conley and Bones Hyland are both on expiring contracts too, meaning the Wolves will have even more guard depth questions heading into next year, assuming neither returns to Minnesota for 2026-27.
Maybe the Wolves look to the backcourt in the NBA Draft. But they tried that a few years ago, and we know how it worked out with Rob Dillingham. Now, with Ayo already on the team, the guard problems could be mostly solved by keeping things simple and signing him as quickly as possible when the new league year begins.
At 26 years old and currently in the best year of his career (so far), Ayo will be a hot commodity on the free agent market. That's why the Wolves shouldn't even let him test the market. This team found a solution to its guard problems — letting that guy go would be silly.