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6 hours ago
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Ayo Dousunmu proved to be a crucial trade acquisition for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now as he heads to free agency, he becomes pivotal to the Western Conference playoff race for years to come.
Dosunmu may not be a roster's top player, but he's the kind of guy who can put a team over the top.
"Acquired at the deadline from Chicago, Dosunmu averaged 14.4 points and shot 52.1% from the field, including 41.4% from 3 in 24 games with Minnesota," ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote in a new article on Friday. "He finished the playoffs with the two highest-scoring games off the bench in Timberwolves history."
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Marks compares Dosunmu to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who the Wolves let walk last offseason only to watch him blossom.
"Last offseason, the Timberwolves chose to retain Julius Randle and Naz Reid but at the cost of losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Atlanta, where the guard became the 2026 Most Improved Player," Marks writes. "This summer, Dosunmu will be the key to the Timberwolves' offseason."
There are really two key notes as far as Marks' projections go with Dosunmu.
First, he predicts a three-year contract for a total of $51 million.
And then, in addition to the Timberwolves, he lists the Lakers, Clippers, Pistons and Heat as possible landing spots.
The Pistons could use another playmaking ball handler. The Heat are going to have to figure out how a roster might work if they do pull off a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It's the double Los Angeles powers that are most intimidating to the Timberwolves, because there, Dosunmu could pick on Minnesota for years to come in the West.
Both would have other moving parts that make it not a sure thing they could land Dosunmu, but if they could, he's a winning player. The Timberwolves will have to do what they can to get him to stay put.
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