Despite making back-to-back conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves' lack of a true point guard has been discussed ad nauseam. I'll put my hand up and admit that I have been part of these discussions. The trade deadline addition of Ayo Dosunmu clearly addressed this need for an extra ball handler, though he's viewed as more of a combo guard.
Nevertheless, the more I watch Ayo, the more I believe the combination of him and Donte DiVincenzo provides a viable solution to Minnesota's point guard problem. Team context matters a lot in this discussion. While it would be interesting to see how it would play out, Anthony Edwards' ball-dominant style of play makes it harder to pair him with a traditional star point guard.
Dosunmu's blend of finishing, shooting, playmaking, and defense makes him a seamless fit next to Edwards. Likewise, Donte DiVincenzo isn't a typical lead guard by any means, but he's a terrific shooter and connective playmaker. To me, scalable and versatile guards like Dosunmu and DiVincenzo are the best option next to Ant in the backcourt.
Throw in Bones Hyland, who can provide a spark off the bench and takes care of the ball at a high rate -- and the Wolves' backcourt is clearly in a great spot.
Game 3's win perfectly highlights the value of Dosunmu and DiVincenzo
There have been several signs that the Wolves' point guard problem has been solved since Ayo's arrival. However, Thursday night's Game 3 win over the Denver Nuggets was my favorite example.
The all-around impact of Dosunmu and DiVincenzo was on full display. Dosunmu poured in 25 points and nine assists while DiVincenzo racked up 15 points, seven assists, and four steals.
Other than Ayo's team-high 25 points, the combined 16 assists really stand out. Most of these assists came within the flow of the offense, but both players also showed that they can organize the offense when needed. This is exactly what you need from a backcourt mate next to Ant.
Notably, all of Dosunmu's field goals came within the paint during Game 3's win. This self-creation ability is an essential element to complement Edwards -- and one the Wolves have long lacked in the backcourt. Ant struggled, shooting 6-for-15 from the field and dealing with foul trouble, but Ayo and Donte picked up the slack. Having two guards who can scale up when needed and play pure complementary roles when Ant has it going is truly ideal.
Additionally, both players were highly disruptive on defense during Game 3. This defensive intensity is something they bring to the table on a nightly basis, and it further allows them to complement Ant.
The variety between Dosunmu's powerful finishing and DiVincenzo's elite spot-up shooting, with the common thread of high-level playmaking and disruptive defense (especially from Dosunmu), gives the Wolves a perfect point guard next to Ant in the aggregate.
Depending on how the rest of the playoffs go, we might see people beg the Wolves to target a star-level PG in the offseason. Maybe the Wolves' old problems pop up against a better defense.
Regardless, for now, I genuinely believe that Dosunmu and DiVincenzo can be the Wolves' long-term backcourt solution next to Ant.
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