The Timberwolves have gotten used to having a real Sixth Man of the Year candidate in the building, and Ayo Dosunmu looks ready to keep that streak alive.
Minnesota leaned on Naz Reid for that role last season, and he rewarded them with the award in 2023-24 before moving on to the Charlotte Hornets. Dosunmu, though, is set to step into the Wolves’ first-off-the-bench spot this year, and the fit already looks natural. He settled in quickly after Minnesota brought him in during February, then backed that up with a 43-point explosion against the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs.
That kind of impact puts him squarely in the 6MOY conversation. But if Dosunmu is going to win it in 2026-27, he’ll have to beat out a crowded field.
Dylan Harper is one of the names sitting near the top of that list. The 20-year-old probably belongs in a starting role and would likely have one on most teams, but for now he appears headed to the bench behind De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in San Antonio. Harper was already a factor in last season’s voting, finishing 11th, and he closed his rookie year strong after the All-Star break by averaging 13.3 points on 56.6 percent shooting.
Ace Bailey could also make noise if Utah gives him the scoring runway that usually matters in this award race. After the Jazz used the second overall pick on Darryn Peterson, Bailey is expected to slide into a reserve role in his second season.
The 20-year-old averaged 13.8 points in 27.6 minutes last year, and if his efficiency climbs while his minutes stay steady, the production could pop even more. On a better Jazz team, that case gets stronger.
Reed Sheppard is another serious threat. The 22-year-old finished sixth in 6MOY voting in 2025-26 and showed clear growth after a rough rookie season.
His 3-point shooting jumped from 33.8 percent in 2024-25 to 39.4 percent last season, and his Kentucky track record suggests there’s still more room to rise after hitting 52.1 percent from deep in college. If the shot keeps climbing, he’ll stay in the thick of the race.
Jrue Holiday brings a different kind of challenge. He has started 92.4 percent of his regular-season games across a 17-year career, but Portland is expected to open with Ja Morant and Damian Lillard in the backcourt, which would push Holiday into a reserve role.
That may not hold all year if the Blazers decide they need his size and defense elsewhere, but even at 36, he should still play a major part. Last season, he put up 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists.
Then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who has already outperformed his draft slot by a wide margin. Taken 38th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Mitchell finished fifth in 6MOY voting last season and could see even more opportunity after Oklahoma City traded Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins this offseason. In 2025-26, he averaged 13.6 points in the regular season and 15.1 in the postseason, while also posting solid steal rates and emerging as an above-average perimeter defender.
Dosunmu has the talent to be right there at the end. The problem is simple: the competition around him is going to be fierce.
In Other News...
Bulls May Have A Jalen Smith Decision Worth Watching
Minnesotas frontcourt picture changed when Naz Reid was moved in the deal for LaMelo Ball, leaving Rudy Gobert without much proven help behind him. That has made the Timberwolves a team worth watching for any affordable big who can stretch the floor a little and chip in on the glass, especially if the answer does not come with the kind of salary strain that limits flexibility elsewhere on the roster.
One name that fits the profile is Jalen Smith, with Chicago now facing its own decision on how to handle him. Smith gives Minnesota the kind of interior depth it has been missing, and his blend of spacing and rebounding makes him a cleaner stylistic match than a lot of backup big options on the market, which is why this is the sort of move that could quietly make sense if the Bulls decide to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Now Faces A Wolves Challenge He Cant Ease Into
Chris Finch is already dealing with a different kind of depth chart problem as the Timberwolves move past Naz Reids departure, and the backup center spot suddenly looks like one of the more interesting development projects on the roster. Joan Beringer is expected to take on a bigger role, and Finch has framed that opportunity in the context of a young player still learning how to handle the demands that come with more minutes and more responsibility.
The challenge is bigger than just plugging in a reserve big, especially after Minnesota added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga and began sorting out how those pieces change the way the group wants to play. Finch also pointed back to the strain of last season and the coaching changes around him, with Pablo Prigioni promoted to lead assistant, underscoring that the Wolves are not easing into this next phase so much as adjusting on the fly while a few key questions remain open. [Read more 🡒]
Naz Reid Is Already Giving The Hornets A Needed New Edge
Naz Reid is settling into Charlotte with the kind of reputation that tends to follow a player long before he gets on the floor. After years of carving out a distinctive role with the Timberwolves, he arrives with a skill set and style that have already made people around the Hornets believe he can bring something different to the roster. The buzz is less about highlights right now and more about what Reid has meant in previous stops, where his blend of feel, versatility and production helped Minnesota in meaningful ways.
Sion James has already noticed how Reid fits in off the court, which matters for a Hornets team trying to build a tougher, more connected identity. Even before his first game in Charlotte, Reids presence has created a sense that the group has added a player who can raise the standard just by the way he carries himself and plays the game. The real question is how quickly that reputation turns into impact once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]