When the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for Ayo Dosunmu, I was especially excited by his versatility. Whether it's rim finishing, 3-point shooting, defense, playmaking, or rebounding, Ayo can do a little bit of everything at a high level.
Understandably, he is often referred to as a jack-of-all-trades. Some people use this as a slight saying that Ayo doesn't have one bankable or elite skill. That mindset is a bit silly to me, though, as Ayo's malleability makes him special, especially in the modern NBA.
Some nights, the Wolves need more defense from him; others, they need more playmaking, and other nights, they could use some extra finishing or shooting. Being able to do a little bit of everything from a bench player is a true luxury for the Timberwolves. Plus, if Ayo has a cold shooting night, this well-rounded skill set allows him to make a positive impact elsewhere.
On Friday night, Ayo notched 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, en route to a Timberwolves win. This was one of his better games since joining the team, and it's a perfect reminder of how his all-around skill set can benefit the Wolves. As the playoffs near, Ayo is only primed to become more important to the Timberwolves' succes.
Ayo Dosunmu's versatility will uplift the Timberwolves in the playoffs
Before trading for Dosunmu, the Timberwolves' bench was a clear weakness. Now, though, Dosunmu has helped transform the Timberwolves' bench into somewhat of a strength.
He gives them seven starting-level players, and as noted, his ability to contribute in every facet of the game has been beneficial to the Wolves. Thus, if one of the Wolves' starters is having an off-night, they can comfortably close with Dosunmu. Likewise, if the starters lack energy, they can always count on Ayo to provide a spark and push the pace.
The playoffs are when we are going to truly see how vital Ayo is to the Wolves' success. In certain series and individual games, the Wolves will need to lean into a different aspect of Dosunmu's skill set. This makes Ayo the ultimate chess piece, and this is exactly the type of player all great teams need.
Not to harp on this comparison, but Dosunmu's skill set is eerily similar to what Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided during the Wolves' past two conference finals runs.
I don't mean to be hyperbolic, but Dosunmu could realistically swing a playoff series or, at the very least, a game for the Wolves. Having some extra shooting, defense, and playmaking can make a world of difference in a playoff series where the margins are so thin.
With how the Timberwolves are playing right now, who knows how far they'll go in the playoffs. Nevertheless, Ayo looks to be a consistent two-way force for the Wolves, and that's a major positive.