Draymond Green is sounding the alarm bells for Jonathan Kuminga after his two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a move Green sees as loaded with risk. On The Draymond Green Show, his former teammate made it crystal clear: Kuminga needs to forget about any money he might have left on the table in the past and laser-focus on dominating in Minnesota. The biggest red flag? That contract, which includes a player option for the second season, could actually make his starting power forward spot less secure than anyone expects.
The $6.5 Million Bench-Role Problem
Green didn’t mince words, pointing out that Kuminga’s $13 million over two years works out to roughly $6.5 million next season. “JK, Jonathan Kuminga, signed with the Timberwolves on a two-year, $13 million deal, plus a player option in the second year,” Green stated. “A six-and-a-half-million-dollar salary in the NBA is a bench-role salary.” He argues that in the league, your salary often dictates how a team treats you. He even referenced Deshaun Watson, saying the Browns have to give him an opportunity because of his massive contract. Green’s big worry for Kuminga is simple: if the starting lineup doesn’t click, he’s “the first plug that gets pulled.”
Passing on the Lakers for a Risky Bet
This season is absolutely massive for the 23-year-old Kuminga. He’s currently set to be the Timberwolves’ starting power forward, but his $6.5 million salary puts him eighth among their highest-paid players. Green believes salaries matter when teams need to decide who gets more patience and who’s expendable. What makes this even crazier? Kuminga reportedly turned down a *big* offer from the Lakers, who were ready to give him a three-year, $12 million *annual* contract and saw him as their long-term starting four. Instead, Kuminga chose the shorter, riskier deal, hoping to hit free agency next summer and snag that much bigger payday he’s been chasing.
High Stakes, No Excuses
The good news for Kuminga is that the Timberwolves do have a reason to give him a real shot right now. Donte DiVincenzo is expected to be out with an Achilles injury, which means fewer established alternatives and a bigger need for Kuminga’s athleticism in the rotation. But Draymond’s point isn’t going away. If that projected starting lineup struggles early, Kuminga’s contract makes him an easy target to move to the bench. Other players on the roster have much larger financial commitments, making them harder to pull from prominent roles. This season isn’t just about Kuminga proving he can start, it’s about proving he’s worth the big money he passed up for a shot at next summer. He’s betting big on himself, and the entire league is watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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