Coveted free agent gives Mavericks real hope to pull off dream signing

The Dallas Mavericks need a two-way combo guard badly, so they should make a play for a coveted unrestricted free agent like Ayo Dosunmu this summer, especially after Dosunmu's loaded comments regarding his future with the Minnesota Timberwolves following Minnesota's exit from the playoffs over the weekend.

"I'm excited, also for free agency," Dosunmu said. "Being in the league for five years, this is my first time actually being able to go through a free agency, unrestricted, so I'm looking forward to that."

This comment makes it clear that he will explore his options rather than just running back to Minnesota, giving the Mavericks the hope they need that he'd be open to leaving the Timberwolves in free agency. If Dallas can land him, that's the type of signing that could change everything.

Dosunmu proved to be a playoff riser this postseason, and he likely played himself out of Dallas' MLE money for this upcoming summer, but if Dallas really covets him on the open market, they could always try to execute a sign-and-trade for him should he be too expensive for the MLE.

Ayo Dosunmu didn't shut the door on leaving Minnesota in free agency

Amidst a huge loss from the injured Donte DiVincenzo this postseason, Dosunmu stepped up in a huge way for the Timberwolves in 10 playoff games versus both the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 15.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game with shooting splits of 50/42.5/92.6 during the playoffs, all while being a menacing defender at the point of attack.

At 26 years old, Dosunmu is just entering his prime and has taken a massive leap this season, as he's absurdly efficient at all three levels, and is willing to do all the dirty work that it takes to win in terms of defending at a high level and rebounding above his size.

There's no doubt he'd fit perfectly as Dallas' starting shooting guard next to Kyrie Irving next season, and he'd be a great tertiary initiator alongside Irving and Cooper Flagg, as well as someone who can run the offense against second units.

Mavericks should do everything they can to get Dosunmu

As aforementioned, Dosunmu is going to cost the Mavericks, as they'd have to sign-and-trade someone to make attaining him at fair market value possible. Perhaps this could involve sending someone like Klay Thompson to Minnesota, but sign-and-trades are complicated, so it's hard to hash out unique scenarios as to how Dallas could pull this off.

Where there's a will, there's a way, though, as many unexpected happenstances occur in the NBA offseason every year, despite seeming close to logistically impossible, and Dallas has one of the best executives in the league in Masai Ujiri now, as Ujiri has the chops to pull something like this off in free agency.

Dosunmu will likely command somewhere in the $20-25 million range annually this summer, but after dropping 43 points versus the Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round, it's hard to argue he's not worth this figure. He's the type of player that could easily prove to be a fringe All-Star next year in the right situation, as one doesn't maintain 50/40/90 shooting splits in regular season and postseason on high volume without relentless work and development.

It's undeniable that the Timberwolves will have a strong case to re-sign Dosunmu, especially since they can offer him more money and years than any new suitor would be able to. However, they have their books filled with large contracts, and the Mavericks have no state income taxes, as well as the promise of a more featured role waiting for Dosunmu if he wanted to come to Dallas.

Dosunmu definitely complimented the Timberwolves and his time in Minnesota in his closing presser, but he could've provided more closure in terms of his future with the team regarding his upcoming free agency, which is all the Mavericks and their fans needed to give wind to the possibility of this dream signing.

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