Ayo Dosunmu Has Transformed the Minnesota Timberwolves Depth

The Minnesota Timberwolves needed a spark at the trade deadline, and Ayo Dosunmu has been delivering one pretty much every night since he arrived from Chicago.

Monday's 124-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks was the latest example, and probably his most complete game yet in a Minnesota uniform.

Dosunmu finished with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists to go along with three steals in 33 minutes off the bench.

It was his second career triple-double, and he put together the type of stat line you don't see very often.

He actually became the first player in Timberwolves franchise history to record at least 18 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in a single game.

That kind of line doesn't just happen by accident, and it tells you a lot about how comfortable he's getting with this group.

After the win, Dosunmu talked about what's been clicking for him in Minnesota and the growth he's experienced since being traded in February.

"For sure. I think growth is huge and getting comfortable with the guys understanding we have a very unique team," Dosunmu said. "I think the more games I play and the more I watch... the more I feel I watch, and I'm able to help guys get easy baskets, help Rudy get easy baskets, help Julius get easy baskets. So, I try to just be that guy that can help, you know, help others."

That mentality is exactly what Minnesota was hoping for when they sent Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to Chicago to get him.

And the numbers back up just how well the transition has gone. Dosunmu is averaging 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season between his time in Chicago and Minnesota while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and a scorching 44.5 percent from three.

Those are career-best numbers in almost every category.

What makes Dosunmu so valuable heading into the playoffs is his ability to do a little bit of everything.

He can guard multiple positions, he can create off the dribble, he can knock down open threes when defenses collapse on Anthony Edwards, and as Monday showed, he can genuinely run an offense and set up teammates when the moment calls for it.

Setting up Rudy Gobert, who is averaging 11.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, with easy lobs and dump-offs is something Dosunmu has gotten really good at, and that connection could be a nightmare for opposing defenses in a seven-game series.

With the win, the Timberwolves improved to 46-29 and moved into sole possession of the sixth seed in a crowded Western Conference race with just seven games left.

Edwards returned from a six-game absence due to knee inflammation, and Julius Randle led all scorers with 24 points.

But it was Dosunmu who stole the show and had coaches and teammates raving about his impact on both ends of the floor.

Minnesota has bigger goals than regular season wins, and Dosunmu knows it.

His willingness to be the connective tissue on offense while also being a pest defensively gives Chris Finch something he didn't have before the deadline.

If he keeps playing like this, the Timberwolves are going to be a tough out no matter who they draw in the first round.