The Minnesota Timberwolves may be forced into a difficult offseason choice, and it starts with one player they do not want to lose. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported on Thursday that the Wolves are expected to bring back Ayo Dosunmu, but doing so could require moving off Donte DiVincenzo to stay below the second luxury tax apron.
Bontemps wrote that after Minnesota lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker last summer and then watched him win 2026 Most Improved Player with the Atlanta Hawks, the team “simply cannot afford to let Ayo Dosunmu walk.” He added that sources around the league expect Dosunmu to return on a deal slightly above the midlevel exception, around $15 million.
That price point matters because Dosunmu is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent as his three-year, $21 million contract expires. Rival teams can offer roughly the same salary range, which means Minnesota may need to make a strong financial case to keep him in place.
The Timberwolves’ interest is easy to understand based on what Dosunmu did after arriving in Minnesota in the February 5 trade from the Chicago Bulls. In 24 regular-season games with the Wolves, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 52.1% from the field and 41.4% from three.
He carried that efficiency into the playoffs, where he posted 15.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 50.0% overall and 42.5% from deep. For a team that already leans on Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Jaden McDaniels, Dosunmu’s ability to play on and off the ball gives Minnesota another reliable perimeter piece.
The DiVincenzo angle is what makes the situation more complicated. He started all 82 regular-season games and averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.0 made threes per game, but he is expected to miss at least most of next season with a torn right Achilles.
