11 games into his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ayo Dosumnu has been impactful. His averages of 10.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds don't jump off the page. Nevertheless, Dosunmu's jack-of-all-trades skill set has predictably helped the Wolves' bench. To me, the two most impressive parts of his impact have been his extra pace and perimeter defense.
If there's one area of his game that is a clear swing factor, though, it's his 3-point shooting. Dosunmu shot 45.1 percent from beyond the arc with the Chicago Bulls, a number that seemed too good to be true. Notably, he shot 32.8 percent last season. Thus far with the Wolves, he's shooting a ho-hum 36.4 percent from deep range.
Come playoff time, Dosunmu's 3-point shooting will make or break his impact to some degree. This is especially the case considering the importance of shooting next to Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Ayo Dosunmu's impact hinges on his 3-point shooting
To be clear, I'm not saying Dosunmu needs to post similar 3-point numbers to his Chicago days -- that's a bit far-fetched. Regardless, 3-point consistency has been an area that Dosunmu has struggled with throughout his career, and the Wolves are quickly learning this.
In five of Dosunmu's games with Minnesota, he's shot 50 percent or higher from 3-point range, but he's had just as many games where he's shot below 30 percent. Of course, single-game 3-point shooting numbers aren't the end-all, be-all, but this paints the picture of Dosunmu's inconsistent shooting.
That's not to say he'll have no impact if his 3-point shooting is off. Dosunmu still thrives as a downhill scorer, especially in transition, and gives the Wolves some much-needed extra perimeter defense. Still, if Dosunmu's deep ball isn't falling, it will limit his minutes. Currently, Dosunmu is averaging 25.8 minutes over the past 11 games, which is the most from any non-starter.
If Ayo is not hitting his 3-pointers, it's fair to expect his minutes to be reduced.
Ayo's shooting is key to fitting alongside the Wolves' stars
When Ayo is playing with Edwards and/or Randle, it makes sense for him to slide into a spot-up role as both players need a dependable kickout option. Furthermore, Ayo is a complementary player who benefits from playing alongside ball-dominant players like Ant. While Dosunmu excels in transition, he isn't a primary creator in half-court settings.
Per Databallr, lineups with Ant and Ayo have a 117.6 offensive rating, but lineups with just Ayo have a 95.2 ORTG. Dosunmu's all-around impact, especially his defense, benefits Ant. Regardless, for this pairing to work, Ayo will consistently need to knock down 3-point shots.
Dosunmu also gives the Wolves an extra closing option if Donte DiVincenzo has an off-night. However, if Dosunmu's shot falters, the Wolves might not feel comfortable playing him in these high-leverage spots.
In the playoffs, Dosunmu's production will be a clear swing factor for the Wolves' ability to compete for a title. When he's at his best, Dosunmu can uplift the Wolves' bench unit and serve as an ideal complementary piece to Minnesota's stars.
If Dosunmu struggles to hit shots, though, he'll see a reduced role and the Wolves' bench will be a massive question mark.