Over the past couple of seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves have tried a contrarian approach to the rest of the NBA. The Wolves experimented with two big men when the rest of the league was going small, and it led to a frontcourt that featured Rudy Gobert next to Karl-Anthony Towns and eventually Julius Randle. After trading Randle and Naz Reid this offseason, the Wolves are shifting to a smaller lineup while the rest of the league is hoarding size.
It’s a key dynamic that should be fascinating when the 2026-27 season begins, but it also means a new role for Ayo Dosunmu. Acquired in a midseason trade from the Chicago Bulls, Dosunmu served as the backup and occasional starter at point guard after coming to Minnesota. But after trading for LaMelo Ball, Dosunmu is likely to see more time as a wing.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, that’s a risky proposition. But he has enough qualities to make the move work and help the Timberwolves maximize their potential on both ends of the floor as long as they don’t overuse it.
The Wolves can ultilize Ayo Dosunmu’s athleticism on the wing
Where Dosunmu lacks in size, he makes up for it with his frame. According to NBA.com’s data, Dosunmu had a wingspan of 6-foot-10, which helped plays a key role as a defender. He also posted a 39-inch vertical, which gives him the athleticism to switch onto wing players and a stocky frame that prevents him from getting moved around near the basket.
There’s also his speed that plays into his favor. While his “Twin Turbos” persona with Bones Hyland works best with the ball in his hands, he also can use that on the outside, creating opportunities as a spot-up shooter and providing enough of an offensive punch.
That’s where the biggest benefit of using him as a wing comes from. Dosunmu would provide great spacing as a player who owns a career 38 percent conversion rate on 3-pointers and shot 43.9 percent last season between the Bulls and Timberwolves. While that production can come in streaks, Dosunmu’s highs are enough where defenses must account for it, leaving more opportunities available in the paint.
Ayo Dosunmu should be used on the wing in moderation
For a team that will be without Donte DiVincenzo for most of the season as he rehabs from a torn Achilles, Dosunmu’s versatility will be a key component of the Timberwolves’ success, and it could be a way to rip a page out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playbook.
With Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort and Jared McCain among players who could play in the backcourt or at small forward last season, it presents multiple options on how to attack and defend an opposing team, but it still brings the question of how things will fit together when the season begins.
In many ways, Dosunmu at the wing should work in moderation. If the Wolves are relying on Dosunmu to be the full-time small forward this season, teams could be able to expose it and create mismatches. It also brings the size issue Minnesota has to the forefront, as Dosunmu’s 3.4 rebounds per game last season could leave Minnesota vulnerable on the glass.
If the experiment works, the Timberwolves should be a more dynamic team than they were a year ago that can get up and down the court and Dosunmu has the ability to make the most of it.
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