The already busy offseason for the Minnesota Timberwolves just got busier just over a month away from preseason action tipping off.
After trading away the likes of Naz Reid and Julius Randle this offseason, many were asking the question of who would fill the power forward-sized hole in the starting lineup.
On Wednesday, that question was answered with the Wolves reportedly signing Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal worth $13 million.
ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped his latest Shams Bomb when he reported that Kuminga agreed to join Minnesota, joining LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert in the Wolves’ starting lineup.
According to Charania, Kuminga chose Minnesota over the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers. Kuminga reportedly passed on a similar starting role and $12 million-plus annually over three years in Los Angeles to join the Wolves for a shorter contract and “an ability to have more control of his future.”
The first JK in Minnesota, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported that Edwards was “critical” in landing Kuminga, noting he was heavily involved in pitching the opportunity of coming to Minnesota.
Krawczynski added that President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and Wolves ownership also played a large role in convincing Kuminga that Minnesota was the right place for him, fending off the Lakers as another team heavily pursuing the forward.
Over the past month, the Wolves persistently recruited Kuminga, Charania reported, offering a bit of a smaller annual salary but a larger on-court opportunity. Charania added Connelly even traveled to Miami for a four-hour, in-person meeting between Kuminga and Wolves coach Chris Finch.
Kuminga, who will turn 24 years old in early October, has spent five seasons in the NBA after being drafted seventh overall by Golden State in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kuminga has spent a majority of his career with the Warriors before finishing the 2025-26 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks after being dealt at the trade deadline.
Over his career, Kuminga holds averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in just under 300 career contests, having shot 50.2% from the field, 33.2% from three and 69.9% from the free throw line.
Kuminga is a young talent that has enough time yet to use this opportunity in Minnesota to prove himself to the Wolves and the rest of the NBA. It’s already a win for Minnesota in adding to a position of need in the starting lineup, and the Wolves don’t necessarily need him to play more than a supporting role as a starter.
But if Kuminga does indeed rise to the occasion and takes the next step in his career, this addition is a home run for Minnesota and could result in the Wolves playing late into the postseason this year.
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