Chris Finch’s latest lineup hints may be pointing Minnesota in a direction that could have a ripple effect well beyond the starting five. If Jaden McDaniels opens the season somewhere other than power forward, the Timberwolves may be leaning on Ayo Dosunmu in a role that fits him perfectly: first guard off the bench, steady scorer, and a real Sixth Man of the Year contender.
McDaniels still looks like a starter either way. If he doesn’t begin at the four, the small forward spot would be the alternative. That would leave Dosunmu in reserve, and if that’s where he spends most of the season, he’ll have a strong case for league recognition.
Minnesota has been here before. Naz Reid became the first player in franchise history to win Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24, then finished fifth and fourth in voting the next two seasons. Now that Reid has been traded to the Charlotte Hornets in the LaMelo Ball deal, the Wolves need a new anchor for that second unit.
Dosunmu has already shown he can handle that kind of job. After arriving in Minnesota in early February, he played in 24 regular season games, and 15 of them came off the bench. In 11 of those reserve appearances, he scored in double figures.
That kind of production is exactly why the fit makes sense. If Minnesota uses him the way it used Reid, Dosunmu could be on the floor for at least 25 minutes a night as the first man in. That would give him plenty of chances to pile up the kind of scoring totals that usually drive Sixth Man of the Year voting.
He’s not going to drop 43 points every night like he did in Game 4 of the opening round of last season’s playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, but that game showed the kind of ceiling he brings.
The contract won’t change the role. Dosunmu’s deal is five years, $112 million, and if that sounds rich for a reserve, Reid’s extension last offseason was five years, $125 million. That’s $2.6 million more per season than Dosunmu will make.
Minnesota treated Reid like a sixth starter in recent years, and Dosunmu can slide into that same lane. If the usage follows the pattern, the award talk could be waiting when the 2026-27 season ends.
In Other News...
Jaylen Clark Faces The One Question That Could Define His Wolves Role
Jaylen Clark is back on a three-year, $10 million deal, and that alone says the Timberwolves still see value in what he already does well. His defense has made him a useful piece, the kind of wing who can raise the floor for a rotation that needs length, activity and toughness on the perimeter.
The question is whether that defensive utility can hold up if the shot never fully comes around. Clarks spot in the lineup has been tied to his three-point consistency, and his ability to stay on the floor will likely hinge on becoming a more reliable catch-and-shoot option. If that part of his game clicks, he has a path to a much bigger role in Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Trading Randle Wont Erase The Timberwolves Biggest Early Threat
Trading Julius Randle may have changed the look of Minnesotas roster, but it does not automatically solve the bigger problem hanging over the Timberwolves. Britt Robsons read is that the moodiness around the team is more symptom than cause, a reflection of the situation the group has been in rather than one player alone. In other words, the chemistry questions are still there even after the move.
That is why the next stretch matters so much for Chris Finch and the core around him. Finch will have to coach differently, Anthony Edwards will need to approach the season differently, and any new addition such as LaMelo Ball would have to be shaped into the best possible fit. Even then, the Wolves would still be betting on Ball to avoid the habits that have raised concerns before, while getting steadier play from Jaden McDaniels and TJ Shannon Jr. along the way. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Made Another Move Wolves Fans Needed To See
The Thunders offseason has taken another sharp turn, and for Minnesota, it is the kind of development worth watching closely. Oklahoma City has been trimming payroll and reshaping the roster around a cost-cutting plan that already sent Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe elsewhere, signaling a willingness to sacrifice some of the depth that helped make the team so tough to play against.
For the Timberwolves, the bigger question is what all of that means when the Western Conference race tightens up. Oklahoma City still has the look of a contender, but every move that chips away at its defensive versatility gives Minnesota a little more reason to believe there is room to close the gap, especially in a conference where margins can swing quickly from one roster decision to the next. [Read more 🡒]