Jonathan Kuminga finally inked his new deal, agreeing to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported Wednesday. This might sound like a pretty standard signing, but when you look at what Kuminga turned down, it is clear this move is shaping up as one of the bigger bag fumbles in recent NBA history. It’s a head-scratcher that has everyone talking.
The Multi-Million Dollar Misstep
Let’s break down how Kuminga ended up taking such a relatively small deal. He reportedly bypassed a much larger offer from the Lakers, a three-year deal worth more than $12 million annually via sign-and-trade. So, he chose a deal paying him $6.2 million annually with the Wolves over one offering double that from the Lakers. Why? According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, it was “to have more control of his future and possibly jump back in free agency next summer.” That’s a huge gamble, especially when you consider what he previously walked away from. Back in the 2025 offseason, the Golden State Warriors reportedly offered Kuminga a massive three-year, $75.2 million deal with a third-year team option. He instead took a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a second-year team option with the Warriors, which was “designed for the Warriors,or another team if and when Kuminga is traded during the upcoming season,to rip up and complete a fresh new contract after the 2025-26 campaign.” Now, he is on a $12.4 million deal. It seems Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner, seriously misread his market for the second straight offseason.
How The Doors Closed On Better Deals
Kuminga’s options definitely dwindled throughout the offseason. Just in the past two weeks, we saw Peyton Watson join the Cleveland Cavaliers via sign-and-trade, DeMar DeRozan sign a veteran-minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets, and Klay Thompson secure a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks to join the Miami Heat. All these moves happened while Kuminga was still trying to find his next team. He could have chosen to re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks, but that never seemed likely. Instead, he narrowed his choices down to the Lakers and Wolves, as NBA insider Jake Fischer reported during a Bleacher Report livestream Tuesday. Kuminga “seemed to prefer going to the Lakers,” who had the “most opportunity to negotiate.” The Lakers were selling him on a vision of starting next to Luka and had the “spending power” to reward him next year. Minnesota was limited to signing him to the taxpayer mid-level, though they did offer him a starting spot at forward. In late July, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype even reported that Kuminga had drawn sign-and-trade interest from the Lakers, Cavs, Clippers, and Bucks. Clearly, several of those doors had slammed shut by the time he finally decided to sign with the Wolves.
So, what is next for Kuminga? He is betting on himself to have a career year in Minnesota, decline his player option next summer, and cash in as a free agent in 2027. It’s a high-stakes play, and the whole league is watching to see if this gamble pays off or if this truly becomes one of the biggest “bag fumbles” we have seen in a long time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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