The Minnesota Timberwolves got their guard. After months of speculation that the team would address the backcourt before the deadline, Tim Connelly did that in a big way with the addition of Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks.
That's a banging trade for the Wolves — Dosunmu has been stellar this year for the Bulls, averaging a career-high 15 points per game and shooting a blistering 45% from the 3-point line.
He's not Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, and that hypothetical deal is what Wolves fans have been refreshing their phones constantly for over the past week.
In fact, after this deal, it sounds like a hypothetical Giannis trade will remain a hypothetical.
Timberwolves add Dosunmu, likely end Giannis pursuit
Maybe this is okay. Yes, the Wolves felt like the frontrunners for Giannis, and now it sounds like that pursuit has come to an end — at least according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
But if no one is getting Giannis (a reality that feels more likely with each passing hour), then the Wolves making this deal will look really good in about six hours. Waiting for a Giannis trade that's never going to come would be the ultimate risk. Instead, the Wolves made their pitch, didn't get a deal done, and pivoted to addressing their biggest need. That's smart team management, in my opinion.
Plus, things are going well for the Timberwolves. Not a ton has changed from the past two years, and I think continuity starts to feel a bit boring after some time, but when the continuity is continuing from two straight conference finals appearances, "more of the same" is actually a good thing.
Dosunmu is much more than a flier or a run-of-the-mill deadline addtion, too. He's good enough that the Wolves will need to seriously consider a long-term deal with him after this season. His energy, speed, and production is going to make him a fan favorite quickly in the Twin Cities.
If you haven't been watching Chicago Bulls basketball this year, congrats on respecting yourself, but you have missed some great hoops from Ayo.
It's not the trade fans were holding their collective breath for, but it's the trade that makes this team better at a position of need. This is a winning trade — fans will just have to get over it not being Giannis to fully appreciate it.