Between Kevin Garnett and Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t have much to cheer about.

It wasn’t until the mid-2010s that Minnesota started to actually hit on some draft picks. One thing led to another, and in 2020, the Timberwolves drafted the cornerstone of the franchise with the selection of Edwards No. 1 overall.

Fitting the right pieces around Edwards has been the challenge. Minnesota has been competing in the Western Conference since that fateful draft, but it hasn’t been able to get over the hump. Piece by piece, the Timberwolves have been building. They have a really good starting rotation, and during the 2025-26 trade deadline, the franchise made another good move.

The addition of Ayo Dosunmu was a quiet one, but it could arguably go down as the most important move from this season’s trade deadline. Dosunmu was a big piece for the Chicago Bulls, but they are now in full rebuilding mode, and Minnesota benefited by getting even stronger.

Dosunmu has now played in three games for the Timberwolves and is averaging 14.7 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 rebounds per game while shooting 56.3% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. All of this is coming on 28 minutes of action each game.

This has been a great start for Dosunmu with his new team. As a franchise, the Timberwolves have felt the effects, too. They have now won two straight, scoring over 130 points in each victory.

There is one potential negative side effect, though. Dosunmu might be encroaching on Naz Reid’s hold on the 6th Man of the Year award.

Reid, the 6-foot-9 stretch big man, has been coming off the bench for Minnesota this season and lighting the world on fire. He has averaged 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. He also logs an average of 26.2 minutes each game.

Those numbers have dropped since Dosunmu joined the team. Over the last two games, Reid’s numbers have dipped to averaging 22.5 minutes and putting up 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and shooting just 43.8% from the field and 20% from three-point range.

Meanwhile, Dosunmu has taken some of Reid’s thunder. The former Illinois guard is averaging 29.0 minutes and putting up 11.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 rebounds per game in the last two contests, while also shooting 66.7% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

This is still Reid’s award to win, though. Current DraftKings odds have Reid as the favorite for the 6th Man of the Year award, going off at +190. Keldon Johnson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Ajay Mitchell all follow. But the player with the sixth-best odds right now is Dosunmu. He checks in at +1500 to win the coveted award.

Minnesota Timberwolves are in a great position when it comes to making an NBA Playoff run

What I describe above is a real potential thing that is playing out. But for the Timberwolves, it is a good problem to have. They have multiple talented players, one in the frontcourt and the other in the backcourt, coming off the bench. That is going to be so valuable as we inch toward the playoffs.

Minnesota is currently sitting in a great position, too. They are in the No. 5 seed right now, just 1.5 games out of the No. 3 spot.

The teams behind the Timberwolves are starting to fade a bit. The Los Angeles Lakers have hit some injury issues. The Phoenix Suns don’t have a ton of firepower. The Golden State Warriors don’t have the weapons and have had some injuries.

Dosunmu has been a great addition to the Minnesota franchise. His addition isn’t just helping now, but when the playoffs roll around, look for his role to be crucial for this team.