The initial rush of NBA free agency has come and gone, but there are still a few unsigned players that stand to make an impact in the 2023-24 season.
Among the most notable available players is Ayo Dosunmu, a restricted free agent that spent the first two years of his career with his hometown Bulls after going 38th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Dosunmu, a 6-foot-5 guard, has been linked to the Raptors for weeks, and Toronto's need for more backcourt depth could result in a deal being done.
Should the Raptors sign Dosunmu? Here is why the 23-year-old would be a viable option for Toronto ahead of the upcoming season.
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Should the Raptors sign Ayo Dosunmu?
As it stands, the Raptors currently have 14 of 15 standard NBA roster spots filled. Of those players, four — Gradey Dick, Malachi Flynn, Dennis Schröder, and Gary Trent Jr. — are listed as guards.
Following the departure of free agent Fred VanVleet, there is an even greater need for guard depth, which was also an issue when VanVleet was on the roster.
Listed at 6-5 and 200 pounds, Dosunmu is a big guard that has shown the capability to play both on or off the ball alongside a variety of backcourt mates. Last season, Dosunmu was Chicago's opening-night starter at the point guard position.
Despite being a second-round pick, Dosunmu has started in 91 of his 157 NBA appearances, including 51 starts during the 2022-23 season. He has proven to be versatile and malleable, starting in the backcourt alongside Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Beverley in his second NBA season.
That same malleability would prove to be crucial in a situation like Toronto's, as Dosunmu would give head coach Darko Rajakovic lineup flexibility.
Given the Raptors' unique backcourt rotation, Dosunmu is the type of player capable of sharing a backcourt with any of the four aforementioned guards as well as Two-Way guard Markquis Nowell, who is working to carve a role with the Raptors, though his contract limits him to 50 NBA games.
As a young, versatile guard with size and a valuable set of skills, Dosunmu makes sense for the Raptors for a number of reasons. But how exactly would he fit given his skillset?
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How good is Ayo Dosunmu?
Dosunmu is not your typical second-round pick. After a three-year career at Illinois, Dosunmu was ready to contribute as soon as he entered the league, earning his first start just 24 games into his career.
Just how good was that first start? Dosunmu finished with 11 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in a Chicago win.
Dosunmu was honored with a selection to the Rising Stars Game and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 8.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 77 games (40 starts) for a Bulls team that would qualify for the NBA Playoffs.
In Year 2, Dosunmu's production essentially stayed the same — he averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 80 games (51 starts) and again played in the Rising Stars Game — but his 3-point efficiency dipped from 37.6 percent to 31.2 percent on identical volume.
Dosunmu's jump shot may not be textbook, but it is mechanically sound. His regression as a shooter should not be looked at as a major negative as he showed positive flashes as a rookie and, more importantly, his shooting is far from his most valuable skill.
Defensively, Dosunmu uses his size and instincts to be a disruptor in passing lanes and as a help defender.
He uses his size, length, and athleticism to pester guards on the defensive end, something that can lead to opportunities in transition for his team and limit opportunities for others.
With respect to transition scoring, over a quarter of Dosunmu's offense during the 2022-23 season came in the form of fast break points. His ability to get downhill and finish is highlighted by the fact that only three Bulls — LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic — averaged more points in the paint than Dosunmu (5.0) last season, per NBA.com Stats.
And as a point guard by nature, Dosunmu can be counted on to create for others in transition as well.
As good as the production has been, it has become clear that Chicago's increasingly crowded backcourt has clouded his future.
This offseason, the Bulls made significant financial commitments to re-sign Coby White and add Jevon Carter. For a roster that already has Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso, Dosunmu appears to be the odd man out in the guard rotation as a player far too good to be the fifth man.
For a franchise that has had its fair share of misses in recent drafts, Dosunmu is arguably the Bulls' most successful draft pick in years. Their potential decision to move on from him should not be viewed as a negative, but rather a sign that he has outgrown his role there.
Ayo Dosunmu contract
After going in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu signed a two-year deal worth roughly $2.49 million with the Bulls. This offseason, Chicago extended a $1.8 million qualifying offer to Dosunmu, making him a restricted free agent.
Dosunmu has a few options.
If Dosunmu signs the Bulls' qualifying offer, he could play out the 2023-24 season with Chicago and become an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason. Dosunmu can also sign an offer sheet from another team, but the Bulls will have 24 hours to match the sheet to retain their former draft pick.
Chicago also has the option to rescind its qualifying offer, which would make Dosunmu an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Here is a look at his career earnings to date:
| Season | Salary |
| 2021-22 | $925,528 |
| 2022-23 | $1,563,518 |
| 2023 | RFA |
RFA = Restricted free agent
Ayo Dosunmu career stats
- 8.7 points per game
- 2.9 assists per game
- 2.8 rebounds per game
- 0.8 steals per game
- 1.3 turnovers per game
- 50.6 percent field goal shooting
- 34.4 percent 3-point field goal shooting
- 74.4 percent free throw shooting
