Amid hopes and dreams of a star trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves also face Ayo Dosunmu's pending free agency this offseason. With Dosunmu's Bird rights, the Wolves have a clear path to re-signing him.
However, NBA insider Marc Stein recently noted that the Wolves will have some serious competition for Ayo and that retaining him could be tricky.Â
"Can they (the Wolves) keep Ayo? Because they're going to have competition for him. Dosunmu played so well at the playoffs that there are going to be suitors who make a run at him. I thought mid-level, the full mid-level is the $15 million range. Could Dosunmu attract more than that? Some people think so. It's going to be competitive just keeping Dosunmu," Stein said. Â
Listen, this update might scare Wolves fans and Stein is extremely reliable. It's vital to note, though, that only five teams, the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, can offer Ayo above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception per Spotrac.
Furthermore, the Lakers (Austin Reaves and possibly LeBron James) and Pistons (Jalen Duren) have expensive free agents to re-sign. A reunion with the Bulls or playing for the rebuilding Nets wouldn't make sense for Dosunmu, if he wants to play for a competitive team. I suppose that leaves the Hawks as the lone true threat, but do they need a player with Ayo's skill set? That much is up for debate, with frontcourt play being a clearer need for Atlanta.Â
Why Ayo Dosunmu is primed to stay in Minnesota
Surprises can happen and I'm sure that Ayo will be coveted in free agency. Nevertheless, the possible suitors for Dosunmu, combined with the Wolves being able to pay him more than anyone else, should ease fans' possible concerns.
It's also worth noting that the Wolves can offer Ayo a three-year, $52.4 million extension before free agency even starts. This is slightly above the full mid-level. Dosunmu could opt to test the free agency market and his contract could exceed this range of $17 million annually. Now, if his deal exceeds this threshold, that could put the Wolves in a financial pickle, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't re-sign Ayo.Â
Regardless, the point is that this is a competitive offer at the very least and a deal could get done before free agency.Â
Earlier this month, Jake Fischer said, "They (the Wolves) brought back Ayo Dosunmu." Maybe he got his words mixed up, or maybe a deal is already in place. In any event, his comments should add to the confidence that Minnesota will get a deal done.Â
Bringing back Dosunmu is a vital decision for the Wolves. Since he was acquired at the deadline, he proved to be a perfect fit. Even if Dosunmu isn't the Wolves' long-term answer at lead guard, he offers some necessary skills, including finishing, spot-up shooting, connective playmaking and defense.Â
Whether they land a true co-star alongside Anthony Edwards or not, keeping Dosunmu is essential for the Wolves' success. Also, would the Timberwolves have traded for Ayo at the deadline if they weren't certain they could re-sign him?Â
Ultimately, even if Dosunmu enters the open market, it's more likely than not that the Wolves re-sign him when considering all the factors at play.Â
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