Timberwolves vindicated for Ayo Dosunmu trade before he even plays a game

If you're a Minnesota Timberwolves fan, you've probably been thinking a lot about Ayo Dosunmu since Thursday's trade. His well-rounded skill set will give the Wolves a much-needed punch off the bench. If you forgot just how much the Wolves needed a trade (even one around the margins), or didn't think the value was right for Ayo, Friday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans should be a clear reminder.

Up 18 in the third quarter, Minnesota lost by four points to the 14-win Pelicans. Watching the game, I kept thinking about how Dosunmu's presence would have helped the Wolves. Despite not playing during tonight's game, it's expected that Dosunmu will make his Wolves debut on Sunday.

After the trade, some people were wondering if the Wolves paid too much for Dosunmu. Giving up on a 2024 lottery pick in Rob Dillingham, along with Leonard Miller and four second-round picks, might seem like a high price for a quality role player who is entering free agency this summer. 

Nevertheless, the Wolves have nearly all the makings of a championship team, and Ayo could very well be the missing piece. I know that sounds crazy after losing to a lowly Pelicans team, but there's no denying that this game is a perfect reminder of why the Wolves traded for Dosunmu.

The Wolves could have used Ayo Dosunmu on Friday, and he will soon uplift the team

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of Dosunmu's game that could have benefited the Wolves on Friday was his shooting. Notably, the 6-foot-4 guard is netting an absurd 45.1 percent of his 3-pointers this season. On Friday, the Wolves hit just 32.1 percent of their outside shots. The trio of Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Donte DiVincenzo has been dependable throughout the season. However, on Friday, they shot just 3-for-15.

Outlier shooting nights will always happen, but having another reliable shooter in Dosunmu will help offset these bad games. It surely would have helped against the Pelicans.

The Wolves' inconsistent bench play outside of Naz Reid has been a massive problem this season, and this is something Dosunmu can address in a big way. During the Pelicans game, Minnesota's bench outside of Bones Hyland (20 points) struggled, but for the most part, Reid has been their lone source of bench creation.

In addition to Dosunmu's shooting, he is a fantastic finisher -- ranking in the 96th percentile for rim shot creation per Basketball Index.

Perimeter defense was another problem on Friday. The Pelicans shot a staggering 44.1 percent from beyond the arc. Of course, shooting variance was a factor, but so was the Wolves' poor ball containment and rotations. Opposing players are shooting just 26 percent from 3-point range when defended by Dosunmu and 41.4 percent from the field.

Certainly, having an extra high-energy point-of-attack defender would have benefited the Wolves. In general, the Wolves' energy has fluctuated throughout the year, and they once again let up in the second half. Adding a new player who brings intensity and grit every single night will benefit the team.

After the game, Rudy Gobert called out the Wolves for their inconsistent energy. However, he also noted that Dosunmu could help solve this issue.

Undoubtedly, Ayo can provide the Wolves' defense with a boost and give them an edge they've lacked since losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker. For whatever reason, the Wolves seem disengaged and out of sync too often. Regardless, I feel confident that Dosunmu can help turn the tide.

It wasn't necessarily a problem in Friday's game, but Dosunmu's steady ball-handling and high-IQ playmaking will regularly benefit the Wolves. Simply everything that Ayo provides can help the Wolves, and I can't wait to see how he impacts the team.