Ayo Dosunmu may have found a new running mate in Minnesota.
When Dosunmu first landed with the Timberwolves, he clicked fast with Bones Hyland. The two bench guards brought a blur of pace, and the nickname “Twin Turbos” fit what they were doing on the floor. That partnership even produced a plus-7 net rating, which helped turn their style into something Wolves fans latched onto quickly.
Now, though, the guard picture looks different. Hyland is still around, but his minutes could shrink with Minnesota’s upgraded backcourt. That opens the door for third-year wing Terrence Shannon Jr. to step into a larger role, and he may be the best candidate to become Dosunmu’s new high-speed partner.
Chris Finch said the team is already thinking about that pairing. In an interview with Britt Robson of MinnPost, Finch stressed how important it will be for Dosunmu and Shannon to build chemistry.
"They (Dosunmu and Shannon) are probably going to share the floor a lot together. So they are going to have to develop a fast chemistry," Finch said.
The early rotation picture gives Shannon a real edge over Hyland. Dosunmu looks locked into the sixth-man job, Joan Beringer appears set for the second-most bench minutes, and Shannon seems positioned as the clear eighth man to open the season. That leaves Bones and Jaylen Clark fighting for the ninth-man spot, and with Finch’s preference for tighter rotations, Hyland may not have many stable minutes to work with.
Shannon’s season wasn’t smooth from start to finish, but he finished strong. He found his rhythm late in the year and carried that into the playoffs, where he averaged 11.8 points and turned in a 24-point performance that helped send the Denver Nuggets packing. There are still questions about how he fits with all of Minnesota’s on-ball talent, but his downhill scoring and shot creation were enough to put him in line for a bigger opportunity.
Hyland’s postseason was much rougher. He shot only 30 percent from the field, and opponents targeted him on defense. That was enough to knock him out of the rotation, and with the Wolves deeper and more capable in the backcourt, that same issue could follow him again.
What makes Dosunmu and Shannon intriguing is how naturally their games can blend. Dosunmu does not need the ball to stay dangerous, and both players are at their best when they’re attacking the rim and forcing the tempo. Even if Hyland ends up on the outside of the rotation, Minnesota could still keep the “Twin Turbos” idea alive with this new pairing.
Shannon also brings more rim pressure than Hyland. According to Databallr, Shannon averaged 4 rim attempts per 75 possessions, while Hyland averaged 3.1. Add Shannon’s strength and athleticism in transition, and the Wolves suddenly have two bench pieces who can stress defenses in more than one way.
That kind of size-speed-power combination can be a problem for opponents. One possession you think the break is over, and the next Dosunmu and Shannon are flying downhill again. Minnesota already saw how useful that kind of pace can be last season, and it could become an even bigger weapon now.
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