The Minnesota Timberwolves leaned into a perimeter-centric identity this offseason by trading for LaMelo Ball while parting ways with Julius Randle and Naz Reid. While Jonathan Kuminga gives them a quality power forward, they clearly shifted their identity this summer.
Kuminga will likely start games for the Wolves, but I believe Ayo Dosunmu will be the team's primary closer and a part of their best overall lineup. This isn't a shot against Kuminga. Rather, it's a testament to how well Ayo's skill set fits alongside Ball and Anthony Edwards.
A three-guard lineup with Ball, Edwards, and Dosunmu can give opposing defenses fits mainly due to their collective shooting, creation, and ball-handling.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Ayo is the perfect complementary guard. He can thrive with the ball because of his ability to attack the rim, or without it, thanks to his elite spot-up shooting. In fact, Dosunmu ranked in the 95th percentile for rim shot creation per Basketball Index and shot 43.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Ayo's malleability makes him an ideal complement to the Wolves' established talent and will help make the Wolves' three-guard lineup absolutely lethal.
Why the Timberwolves' three-guard lineup will be a clear advantage
The main appeal of this lineup is the shooting upside. LaMelo and Ant are two of the league's best volume shooters, while Dosunmu is a high-end spot-up threat. If the Wolves run this lineup in high-leverage situations, Jaden McDaniels would also be on the floor—much like Dosunmu, he is an efficient spot-up threat.
This level of shooting can put a ton of stress on a defense, which can turn the game into a shooting contest. One that few teams in the league could keep up with. It's also easy to be excited about the Wolves playing a three-guard lineup with Donte DiVincenzo when he likely returns to the court.
Another thing that intrigues me is that this level of spacing can neutralize elite rim protection. In a conference led by the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, this could be especially impactful. Both the New York Knicks (who beat the Spurs) and Indiana Pacers (who nearly beat the Thunder in the 2025 Finals) had success against these teams due to their spacing.
With a three-guard lineup, the Timberwolves could have similar success against these top teams. I'd even argue that this is the only way to challenge elite rim protection. Moreover, both the Spurs and Thunder are average shooting teams. Thus, this strategy could be especially profitable.
Look, I'm not saying this will guarantee that the Wolves will beat these two juggernauts, but it gives them a path.
Another major advantage is the amount of ball-handling and creation between this trio. With the high ball-pressure defense that both the Spurs and Thunder play, this is a vital element of success. Yet it's one that the Wolves have lacked in the past two seasons. Thankfully, Ball gives them a massive boost.
Obviously, Edwards and LaMelo are the main ball-handling and creation threats in this lineup, but opposing defenses can't disrespect Ayo. Just ask the Denver Nuggets. Having three guards who can create for themselves, handle the rock, and play off the ball is a handful for opposing teams to deal with.
All of this is to say the Timberwolves' three-guard lineup gives them a unique weapon that could even give elite defenses problems.
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