Why Ayo Dosunmu is Expected to Re-Sign with Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves front office is preparing for an offseason where president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and other top-ranking executives in the front office will have a larger microscope on their decision-making than any other time during his Wolves tenure.
Then, there’s Ayo Dosunmu. On paper, the trade deadline acquisition should be the most likely candidates to leave town, being he’s one of the few actually scheduled to hit free agency this offseason.
However, when Minnesota traded away a recent top 10 overall draft pick (2024 – Rob Dillingham) and Leonard Miller for Dosunmu, they didn’t do it with plans of letting the former Illinoi star leave as a free agent a few months later, after just 34 total games played.
In fact, according to NBA insider Tim Bontemps (ESPN), they “simply cannot afford to let Dosunmu walk” this summer.
New Ayo Dosunmu deal with Timberwolves incoming
Which is why, according to Bontemps sources around the league, the MN Timberwolves are expected to reach a deal on a contract extension for Ayo Dosunmu that he expects to come in at just over $15 million per year.
That number is significant because most Ayo suitors would be offering him their midlevel exception — projected to be $15.05 million next season, according to Spotrac.
After the Timberwolves lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker last summer in free agency — and after the 27-year-old guard was named 2026 Most Improved Player with the Atlanta Hawks — Minnesota simply cannot afford to let Dosunmu walk. That’s why sources around the league expect he will be back with the Wolves, but for a price slightly above the midlevel exception (roughly $15 million), which is what most rival teams could offer.
Tim Bontemps – ESPN
If the Wolves let Dosunmu walk now — after his arrival resulted in a second-round playoff exit — it wouldn’t just be a stain on Tim Connelly’s record as the Minnesota’s president of basketball operations. It would be a complete and utter disaster for the organization. And that’s why they aren’t going to let it happen.
Signing Dosunmu doesn’t necessarily mean losing Donte DiVincenzo
All we know for sure about the 2026-27 Minnesota Timberwolves, outside of going as Anthony Edwards goes, they are going to look a heckuva lot different than they did in 2025-26. Sensible departures could include, but are not limited to, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid, among others.
But since it doesn’t sound like Dosunmu is going anywhere, I can’t help but wonder which current Wolves players will draw the short straw. In his piece, Bontemps suggests that, if Ayo is in, then Donte Divincenzo is out, but local insiders argue otherwise.
Doing so might require Minnesota to move off DiVincenzo, who will miss at least most of next season with a torn right Achilles, to avoid going into the second luxury tax apron.
Tim Bontemps – ESPN
@CousinJahh Apparently I can't respond to that because Mr. Sidery has blocked me, lol. What I can say is there are potentially going to be a lot of moving parts this summer, so I don't think resigning Ayo definitely means DDV is gone. We'll see how it all plays out.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) May 28, 2026
After joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ayo Dosunmu averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 28.6 minutes per game, off the bench. He averaged just 1.5 turnovers and shot .41% from deep.
In the playoffs, he got even better, averaging 15.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in his 10 games played this postseason. He shot 50% from the floor and 43% from three.
AYO DOSUNMU IS COOKING
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 26, 2026
GAME OF HIS LIFE. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pzBcKBXVj0
Related: Timberwolves Announce Rebrand, New Uniform Reveal Date
And not only did Ayo clutch up a few times when the Wolves needed him — even scoring 43 points in game 5 against Denver, after Anthony Edwards left with a knee injury — but Dosunmu provided instant pace on offense and another shutdown defender on the other end.
Still, it all led to an early round playoff exit, which means — if you lose the 26-year-old to free agency would have meant losing him and everything you traded away at the deadline… for essentially nothing.
More About:Minnesota Timberwolves
