Tim Connelly did a great job fixing a prior mistake he made. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ trade with the San Antonio Spurs in 2024 gave them Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in that year’s draft. He didn’t pan out, so Minnesota dealt him to the Chicago Bulls in February, and the Wolves got Ayo Dosunmu in return.
Instead of Dosunmu being just a few-month rental, the Timberwolves quickly re-signed him this offseason to a five-year, $112 million deal. Dane Moore, a guest on Yossi Gozlan’s Third Apron Podcast, discussed other teams having similar deals in mind for the 26-year-old.
“The timing of that is that there were two other teams that they were monitoring to come throw him an offer similar to this,” Moore said. “I don’t know what those two teams are, but again, if we get back at the end of June, that’s when Detroit has pathways to get to this sort of number. That’s a team I’ve hypothesized for that. I think they just knew they wanted him back.”
While it wouldn’t have been a good look for the Wolves if Dosunmu had moved on, it looks as if other teams agreed with the value of his contract.
Dosunmu’s contract doesn't seem to be an overpay
In just 24 regular-season and 10 postseason outings after joining Minnesota, Dosunmu made quite an impact. Not only did he provide needed 3-point shooting, but the 6-foot-4 guard also used his athleticism to frequently attack the rim. Dosunmu had a 43-point outing in Game 4 of the opening round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
A five-year deal might seem lengthy, but it will mostly take him through his prime, as he will be 31 years old when it is complete. The final year is a player option. While his salary will increase each ensuing year, Dosunmu’s $19.31 million salary in 2026–27 is just the 105th-highest and will be surpassed by at least James Harden once he officially re-signs.
It’s unclear whether Dosunmu will begin the year in the starting lineup. Even if he is a reserve player, at least initially, he’s making less than Naz Reid was given to come off the bench. He was given fewer years, but Coby White’s three-year, $74 million deal has a higher AAV, and it’s a tough call as to who the better overall player is.
It’s understandable why Moore would think the Pistons would have interest in Dosunmu. They need a secondary playmaker and ball handler so they don’t have to put so much on Cade Cunningham’s plate on the offensive end. Since Dosunmu was re-signed before free agency officially began, Detroit never had the opportunity to negotiate with him.
In the end, having Dosunmu raises both the floor and ceiling for the Wolves. He fit in seamlessly last season, whether starting or coming off the bench. He’ll get his fair share of time on the court regardless, and Timberwolves fans will be pleased that Dosunmu is back in the fold.
Add us as a preferred source on Google