Jonathan Kuminga officially inked a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and honestly, after all the buzz surrounding him, this contract feels pretty underwhelming, right? ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the move, which marks the second straight offseason Kuminga’s free agency has dragged into late summer. The Wolves are wasting no time, though, slotting him in as their starting power forward alongside LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert.
Kuminga’s path has been a rollercoaster since the Warriors took him seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. The guy was a favorite in Golden State’s front office, especially with chairman Joe Lacob, and for good reason. As a rookie, he was a solid part of their rotation, even dropping some highlight reel performances during their 2021-22 championship run. But the Warriors just never quite managed to blend his development with their push for another title around Steph Curry. A mix of injuries, a super inconsistent three-point shot, and sometimes erratic effort on defense and rebounding kept him from becoming a trusted piece in head coach Steve Kerr’s system.
Things got wild last offseason when Kuminga was a restricted free agent. There was talk of sign-and-trades, with both the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings reportedly offering him more than $60 million in guarantees. But neither team gave the Warriors what they wanted in return, so Kuminga had to re-sign a one-year, $23.8 million deal with a team option. Fast forward to the trade deadline, and the Warriors finally shipped him out, sending him to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis. Injuries hit both guys hard with their new squads. Porzingis put up 16.1 points, 5.3 boards, and 2.3 assists in 15 games with the Warriors, shooting 43.3% from the field. He then re-signed for two years, $40 million, with $23 million guaranteed. Kuminga, on the other hand, averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 16 regular season games for the Hawks, shooting 47.6%. Despite some playoff flashes, Atlanta declined his team option, letting him walk for absolutely nothing in free agency.
So now, after all that drama and two frustrating stints, Kuminga is heading to Minnesota on a surprisingly cheap deal. He’s got a fresh start as a starter on a new team. It’s a huge moment for him, getting to show out with a fresh lineup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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