Jonathan Kuminga is slated to be the Minnesota Timberwolves' starting power forward. This has been the expectation since he signed with the Wolves, and Chris Finch has openly said that it's his job to lose. Furthermore, according to Michael Scotto, earning a starting job factored into Kuminga's decision to sign with Minnesota, as he bypassed more lucrative offers elsewhere. And in the Wolves' two preseason games where the starters have played, Kuminga has started.
I'm more than fine with giving Kuminga a starting gig to begin the season. It makes the most sense from a traditional standpoint, and he can solve a lot of concerns, including rebounding and defense against forwards.
However, the Wolves need to keep an open mind, and it's possible that Ayo Dosunmu is simply a better fit with the rest of Minnesota's starting five. Running a three-guard starting five would be unconventional, but Dosunmu offers more 3-point shooting juice and is naturally more comfortable off the ball.
Now, Kuminga could adapt his game and thrive in a complementary role. Regardless, if he struggles with this adjustment earlier in the season and Ayo thrives alongside the starters, then a starting lineup could be in order. Kuminga would still play a crucial role as a sixth man, which could strike the perfect balance between him creating for himself and playing more of a complementary role.
Why a starting lineup change could be possible for the Timberwolves this season
Look, I'm not saying that the Wolves will certainly need to make this change. Rather, Finch just needs to be open to the possibility, and if it becomes clear that Ayo is a better fit for the starting group, he can't let his previous commitment to Kuminga prevent him from making this change.
And while Kuminga wanted to start, playing 25-plus minutes a night off the bench shouldn't be seen as a massive slight. Given that he's on a $6 million contract and has a player option, he'll have no choice but to embrace the bench role.
Beyond concerns about Kuminga hijacking the offense or not being able to adjust to a complementary role, the floor spacing is a concern with him and Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt. The Wolves have enough talent to overcome this worry.
Still, Dosunmu shot an impressive 43.9 percent from deep range last season and naturally thrives playing off the ball. Being able to run looks with four-out spacing could take a talented Wolves offense to another level.
Dosunmu would also give the Wolves' starting five a playmaking boost. The extra spacing and playmaking of a three-guard starting five with LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Ayo is enticing. For these reasons, I've argued that the Wolves should close games with Dosunmu. Plus, if this lineup is better down the stretch of games, it could also be better to start games.
Leaning into matchup-dependent starting fives is something Finch discussed before signing Kuminga. Perhaps this is an idea to revisit. Against smaller teams, having more playmaking and shooting would be ideal, while Kuminga's extra size could be beneficial against bigger teams.
To be clear, I don't expect the Wolves to move away from Kuminga until there's a fairly strong regular-season sample size. There's also a chance that he simply proves to be an ideal fit.
It's clear that the Timberwolves are viewing Kuminga as a starter right now, and that's fine. Regardless, they must be open to changing their mind and consider the possibility that Ayo is a better fit in the starting five.
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