Former Illinois basketball star Ayo Dosunmu has been through a lot in his career, but as an NBA player, he is now tasked with one of the hardest jobs he has had in The Association.
Just three days ago, Dosunmu’s great NBA Playoffs run with the Minnesota Timberwolves paid off in a big way. They agreed to a 5-year, $112 million contract that would keep Dosunmu in Minnesota into his 30s.
This contact comes on the heels of Dousnmu lifting the Timberwolves on his shoulders in the Western Conference first round. In back-to-back games, he dropped 25 and 43 points, and Minnesota ended up knocking off Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Beating a future Hall of Fame player while shorthanded due to injuries is a tough ask of Dosunmu, but he put on his cape and played some incredible basketball. He is always ready for a tough job.
On Thursday, Dousnmu might have been handed his toughest job yet, though. Minnesota traded for Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
The Timberwolves are sending Naz Reid and draft picks to the Hornets for Ball and Josh Green. This was a massive trade on paper because Ball is looked at as a good guard who can put up big numbers.
On the court, you are getting the typical stat-stuffer on a bad team. The Hornets have always been bad with Ball on the roster, and he put up 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game in six seasons. His 20.8 points came on 17.5 shots per game, too.
I am not sure how the fit is going to be with Minnesota, as Ball is more of a ball-dominant guard, and there is a lot of talent on the roster that needs the ball. With that being said, there is a bigger issue that could arise from this trade.
There has to be an adult in the room, and that will likely be Ayo Dosunmu’s role with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota was somewhat of an unserious team before. There wasn’t a ton of winning, and the success they did see, they took a bit of a step backward last year.
Anthony Edwards, while a good player, doesn’t exactly exude seriousness. He has that unique ability to be able to pick up a ball and do just about anything on the court, but there is great talent, and then there is great talent with the ability to lock in and win. Edwards hasn’t been able to show the latter.
On paper, adding Rudy Gobert a few years back seemed like a good move, and it has been for the most part. It is hard to find a talented big man of Gobert’s size. Let’s not forget, this is the guy who, when COVID was first heating up, touched every microphone in a press conference mocking what was going on. It isn’t an Earth-shattering thing, but at best, it shows a lack of maturity.
So, Minnesota was already an unserious team, for the most part. And then on Thursday, you add someone like Ball.
Ball, at his core, was brought up in a circus due to his dad, LaVar Ball. He managed to work through that circus and was drafted by the Hornets. The thing is, Ball was in the circus, and he, too, became a clown.
On the court, he has had just two winning seasons in six years and has never been able to stay on the court. He also had a fine for an obscene gesture on the court.
Ball then took his immaturity off the court earlier this year. He hit another car at an intersection with his Hummer.
Will the 2026-27 season for the Timberwolves be fun? Yes, of course. They have a ton of talent. Is there a decent chance it is also a train wreck because of the lack of maturity in the locker room? Yes, of course.
Dosunmu is tasked with being the adult in the room. While his big new contract was a result of his great play, I think it could also be the rate he charges for his side gig. Babysitting.
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