When the Timberwolves traded for Ayo Dosunmuhis impending free agency was a lingering question, given how expensive Minnesota’s roster is. His playoff performance, culminating in his 43-point outing in the Game 4 victory on Saturday, is only making that conversation more interesting, Joe Cowley writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.
“The more and more I’m here, the more opportunity for spotlight games, the first (playoffs) since my rookie year and being a monumental piece to help the team win — you can’t ask for anything better than that,” Dosunmu said. “… Playing meaningful basketball, playing in the playoffs, that’s always been a dream of mine, and that’s why I wrote that in my journal every day. God just sent me here with a different team.”
Dosunmu said he recently spoke with recently dismissed Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas and gained closure regarding the trade that sent him to Minnesota. With the Wolves facing a cap crunch, Cowley asks whether Dosunmu could be interested in a reunion with Chicago.
While Saturday’s victory was marred by the emotions of the Wolves losing both Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles tear) and Anthony Edwards (knee hyperextension), Dosunmu’s heroics gave the team the lift it needed to take a commanding series lead, Marcus Thompson II writes for The Athletic.
“I didn’t know he was that damn good,” teammate Julius Randle said after the game. “… With Chicago, that was those DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine teams… I don’t know if the opportunity was there as much. But damn, I’m glad we got him.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
The Nuggets know they’ve dug themselves into a hole by going down 3-1 to the Wolves, but star Nikola Jokic is counting on the team’s extensive playoff experience to help them right the ship, Vinny Benedetto writes for the Denver Gazette. “We’ve been in this situation before. The most important one is the next one,” Jokic said. “We’re going to go home and (then) try to get the series back here.” The Nuggets have come back from a 3-1 deficit multiple times during Jokic’s reign, the first being against Rudy Gobert‘s Jazz back in the bubble in 2020.
The Trail Blazers have worked hard to return to playoff relevance, and injured star Damian Lillard says the team is closer to taking the next step than people may think, Bill Oram writes for Oregon Live. “It’s all there,” Lillard said. “From the talent to the depth, to having it on both sides of the ball. It’s all there.” While speculation abounds as to whether the three-point champion could return during this postseason run, the front office is also reportedly setting its sights high this offseason, as it is preparing to put a compelling trade offer together for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the two-time MVP indicates he’d be willing to sign an extension in Portland. That is a large “if,” though, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports writescalling the idea of Antetokounmpo making such a promise highly unlikely, if only for the gauntlet he would have to face in the Western Conference playoffs for years to come.
While the 2026 playoffs rage on, the Jazz are more focused on the draft lottery coming up on May 10. However, there are still reasons for them to pay attention to the postseason, one of which is the draft compensation the Cavaliers still owe them due to the Donovan Mitchell trade, The Deseret’s Sarah Todd writes. The Cavs are currently tied 2-2 with the Raptors in the first round, and the team has a big decision to make regarding an extension for Mitchell this summer. While the star guard recently reiterated his desire to stay in Cleveland, a disappointing playoff exit could have ripple effects that impact the Jazz’s draft stockpile.
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