With LaMelo Ball now a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ayo Dosunmu is primed to play more of an off-ball role. He might look more like a wing than a traditional point guard or even a combo guard with LaMelo in the fold. Dosunmu's spot-up shooting and general connectivity should allow him to thrive in this role.
However, Dosunmu's elite finishing abilities can't be totally ignored. After he arrived at the deadline, Timberwolves fans quickly realized that Ayo's blazing speed helped him get to the rim at ease, both in transition and in the half-court; Dosunmu helped the Timberwolves fully lean into a fast-paced identity (something that should continue this season). Furthermore, he gave the team a consistent source of perimeter rim pressure outside of Anthony Edwards.
Notably, last season, Dosunmu ranked in the 93rd percentile for rim attempts per game and the 98th percentile for rim attempts per 100 possessions according to Databallr. Furthermore, he ranked in the 95th percentile for rim shot creation according to Basketball Index.
Even if Dosunmu's on-ball usage will naturally take a hit, the Timberwolves need to ensure they still utilize his rim pressure abilities when appropriate. He didn't earn a five-year $112 million contract just because he can spot-up and defend at a high-level. Make no mistake, Ayo's ability to pressure the rim is super valuable, and he's a solid secondary creator.
Ayo Dosunmu's rim pressure is still a powerful weapon for the Timberwolves
Being able to give Ayo ample on-ball duties is a big reason why I believe that he should come off the bench (even if he closes games). Bringing him off the bench would bolster the Timberwolves' second unit and help the team have a more balanced offense.
The bigger picture is that the Timberwolves need to find some balance.
Of course, LaMelo and Edwards are a dynamic backcourt. As such, they'll have most of the on-ball burden. Still, the Wolves have a good amount of surrounding talent (including Ayo), so they shouldn't always be on the ball.
Thankfully, LaMelo is a fantastic playmaker and off-ball threat, which can help ensure that Dosunmu gets his fair share of on-ball reps. The Wolves' offensive blueprint should center around great ball movement and having multiple creation threats while using Ant as the closer in late-game situations. This is somewhat similar to what we saw from the New York Knicks during their championship run.
Dosunmu can be a vital part of the Timberwolves having multiple creation threats. Obviously, Ant and LaMelo are central to this identity, but having Ayo, Jaden McDaniels, and Terrence Shannon Jr. can make the Wolves truly dangerous in this regard.
A common theme with many of these players is rim pressure, and that's undoubtedly Ayo's primary strength as a creator. Having a team that plays at breakneck pace and one that constantly pressures the rim is extremely difficult to defend against.
Outside of Ball's fantastic playmaking, Dosunmu's ability to play within the flow of the offense and seek out opportunities for himself bodes well for his chances of continuing to generate rim pressure.
Dosunmu is one of the very best transition players in the league. Impressively, his 33.7 transition frequency was among the highest marks in the league per NBA.com. Ayo's ability to push the pace after turnovers or rebounds proved to be a game-changer for the Timberwolves last season.
This knack for transition also gives Dosunmu a clear path to generating rim pressure even if he's less involved in the half-court.
Amid all the excitement about LaMelo, the Timberwolves can't forget that Ayo is a super valuable player, and not just in an off-ball role. Hopefully, the Timberwolves find a way to balance everything and ensure that Dosunmu still has some creation duties -- his rim pressure is too valuable for this not to be the case.
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