The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't get Giannis Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline buzzer, but they did get Ayo Dosunmu. That's just about the same, right? In all seriousness, the trade could age better than expected, if you think Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks was a "high" price to pay. If so, you must hate what the team gave up for Dillingham in 2024.
They sent the Spurs a 2030 swap (top-one protected) and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick for Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft. Tim Connelly believed the Kentucky product was the organization's point guard of the future (clearly). Here we are, less than two years later, and he's already on his way out.
Dillingham wasn't a regular in the rotation, much less the point guard Connelly envisioned he'd be. He averaged only 9.3 minutes in 35 games this season. Minnesota needed to boost its bench somehow before the deadline, so putting Dillingham in a package for Dosunmu (and Julian Phillips) made sense.
Timberwolves fans should be excited about landing Dosunmu, who averaged 15 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 26.4 minutes per game for the Bulls this season, shooting 51.4% from the field and 45.1% from three (on 4.1 attempts per contest). He'll help fill the void that Nickeil Alexander-Walker left over the summer with his scoring and defensive versatility.
As good as Dosunmu can be for the Timberwolves as they hope to make another deep playoff run that goes beyond the conference finals, what they gave up for Dillingham may not be at the front of your mind right now, but it will be in a few years.
Timberwolves still have to pay for what they gave up for Rob Dillingham
The only way Minnesota can truly justify the cost of Dillingham is if Dosunmu plays a key role en route to a championship. The Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back conference finals appearances, and they hope that they'll be able to take it a step further this year.
You can look at the rest of the West and be worried about the chances of that happening, although Minnesota is in fifth right now. Not many expected them to make it as far as they did the past couple of seasons. It wouldn't be all that surprising if it happened again. To get there, though, they'll need to make it through either the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, or the Rockets.
By no means is it reasonable to put added weight on Dosunmu's shoulders because of what the Timberwolves gave up for Dillingham (along with the four second-round picks, but those are just second-rounders), but he could help ease that eventual pain if he stays around. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Minnesota has his Bird rights, so the team can go over the cap to re-sign him.
Let's hope, of course, that Dosunmu will carry his strong play over to Minnesota and help the Timberwolves make even more noise in the postseason. At least we know he will do more than Dillingham did, but it probably won't be enough to make you forget about 2030 and 2031. It will help, though!