Jonathan Kuminga is expected to open the season as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting power forward, and that’s been the plan for a while.
Chris Finch has already said the job is Kuminga’s to lose, and Michael Scotto reported that the chance to start played a role in Kuminga choosing Minnesota over more lucrative offers elsewhere. In the two preseason games where the starters have been on the floor, Kuminga has been in that group, too.
There’s nothing wrong with that setup on paper. Kuminga gives the Wolves size, rebounding, and real help defending forwards. On a traditional level, the fit makes sense.
But Minnesota can’t get locked into the idea that the first version of the lineup has to be the final one. Ayo Dosunmu may end up being the better fit with the rest of the starters, even if that means the Wolves lean into a three-guard look that feels unconventional. Dosunmu brings more 3-point shooting and looks more natural working off the ball.
That doesn’t mean Kuminga would be pushed aside. If anything, he could still matter plenty in a bench role.
If he has trouble adjusting early and Dosunmu clicks with the starting group, a change should be on the table. Kuminga could then become a high-usage sixth man, giving Minnesota a different kind of punch while still playing a major role.
The bigger point is that Finch shouldn’t let the preseason plan become a trap. If the season starts and Dosunmu clearly fits better with the starters, the coach needs to be willing to move pieces around rather than sticking with Kuminga out of obligation.
Kuminga’s role off the bench also wouldn’t be some kind of demotion. He’s on a $6 million contract and has a player option, so playing 25-plus minutes per night in a reserve role should be something he can accept.
There are basketball reasons to at least keep the possibility alive. Kuminga and Rudy Gobert together raise some floor-spacing questions, and there’s always the concern that Kuminga could end up overpowering the offense instead of blending into it. Minnesota has enough talent to survive those issues, but Dosunmu offers a cleaner shooting profile.
Last season, Dosunmu hit 43.9 percent from deep, and his ability to stay comfortable without the ball makes him attractive in a lineup with better spacing. The Wolves could also get a playmaking boost from a three-guard starting five featuring LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Ayo. That kind of group could open up the offense in a way that pushes it to another level.
That’s why Dosunmu has also been a candidate to close games. If that look works best late, there’s a strong argument that it should be tried from the start, too.
Finch has already talked about the idea of using matchup-dependent starting lineups before Kuminga signed, and this may be a spot to revisit that approach. Smaller opponents might call for more shooting and ball movement, while bigger teams could make Kuminga’s size more valuable.
None of this means Minnesota has to move off Kuminga right away. The more likely path is to give the arrangement a real run and wait for a solid regular-season sample before making any judgment. Kuminga could also just prove to be the perfect fit.
For now, the Wolves are treating him like a starter, and that’s reasonable. They just need to stay flexible enough to admit it if Ayo Dosunmu turns out to be the better option with the first unit.
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The fit around him could matter just as much as the surge itself. With LaMelo Ball expected to help with ball distribution, McDaniels should have more chances to work into cleaner looks, and the Timberwolves faster pace and improved spacing may only help him keep expanding beyond a low-usage role. He has already shown a greater ability to create for himself, and preseason has only strengthened the sense that there may be a bigger role waiting if this carries over. [Read more 🡒]