Ayo Dosunmu is a valuable complementary player because of his ability to scale up or play a pure off-ball role and fit seamlessly alongside stars. We already saw this stellar combination last season, but the Minnesota Timberwolves' new-look roster should further highlight this.
With the addition of Jonathan Kuminga, Dosunmu is now primed to be a super-sub. Dosunmu already gave the Timberwolves a massive bench spark last season after arriving at the trade deadline. Now, though, Ayo will be the team's clear-cut sixth man with Naz Reid in Charlotte. As such, his shot creation abilities will be utilized a bit more.
All the same, Dosunmu will have plenty of reps with the starting lineup and the Wolves' established talent. Even with Kuminga expected to start, I think there's a path for Ayo to close most games thanks to his ability to blend in with stars. Furthermore, with LaMelo Ball in the mix now, the Wolves have another true star for Dosunmu to play off of.
Immediately upon his arrival, Dosunmu was a perfect fit alongside Anthony Edwards, and his 3-and-D chops should also be a perfect fit alongside LaMelo. Likewise, Ball should be able to make Ayo's complementary abilities pop, as he will feed him open 3-pointers with his elite playmaking.
Between playing alongside more talent and being the true leader of a bench unit, Dosunmu can solidify himself as a top-tier role player.
Ayo Dosunmu's impact will pop off the screen this season
After Kuminga's arrival, it was easy to point to Dosunmu as the front-runner to win Sixth Man of the Year. I'd certainly have him at the forefront of this race. He is a gifted downhill scorer who can put a ton of pressure on opposing defenses with his speed. Notably, he ranked in the 95th percentile for rim shot creation per B-Ball Index.
Whether it's attacking in transition or the half-court, Ayo excels at getting to the rim. Remember his 43-point game in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
Having a player like that off the bench is a massive luxury for the Timberwolves. Frankly, his ability to generate rim pressure and scale up when called upon makes him one of the most talented sixth men across the league.
Again, though, Ayo's complementary skill set is elite. With LaMelo and Ant, dependable shooting is a major need. When considering Kuminga's presence and Jaden McDaniels (hopefully) getting a bigger role, this need for spot-up shooting is even more significant. Last season, Dosunmu shot a scorching 43.9 percent from beyond the arc overall.
Furthermore, his connective playmaking and tenacious defense allow Dosunmu to seamlessly fit alongside and elevate stars.
By all accounts, this season will bring out the best version of Ayo as we'll get to see him become a true high-end sixth man and help elevate an improved roster when playing with the stars.
The Timberwolves handed Dosunmu a hefty five-year, $112 million contract this offseason, which was a controversial move. Still, this season will prove that Dosunmu is one of the best complementary guards, and this contract will look like a fair deal.
Without a doubt, the Timberwolves' improved roster gives Dosunmu a chance to be the best version of himself, and he'll be a key part of their success.
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