Jonathan Kuminga made his move, and it’s not the one L.A. was sweating for: he’s officially a Minnesota Timberwolf. After what felt like an endless wait this offseason, Kuminga signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Wolves, opting out of joining the purple and gold despite what everyone thought was a prime opportunity with the Lakers. Talk about a curveball!
Wolves Snatch Kuminga, L.A. Left Empty-Handed
This whole free agency period felt like it ground to a halt while everyone waited on Kuminga. Remember all that initial chatter blaming LeBron James for the holdup? Well, LeBron bounced to Philly weeks ago, and Kuminga still held tight. Turns out, he was making a calculated play. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Kuminga chose the Timberwolves over offers from not just the Lakers, but also the Bulls and the Trail Blazers. And get this: he bypassed a similar starting role and a bigger payout, over $12 million annually for three years in L.A., to land in Minnesota with a shorter-term deal and more control over his future. That’s a power move right there, opting for flexibility over a fatter, longer contract. The Wolves are signing him using the $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception, but they’ll need to shed some serious payroll first since they’re short on second apron space to actually fit the deal. This is gonna be interesting to watch unfold.
Lakers’ Tough Road Ahead While Kuminga Brings His Game
Missing out on Kuminga leaves the Lakers in a real bind. He was the best wing option available on the free agent market, exactly what they needed for an athletic forward. Now, with 16 guaranteed contracts already on the books, L.A. has got to make a trade to shed at least one salary. It’s not just a perimeter problem, either; they’ve been scrambling on the trade market for centers too. Most likely, they’ll try to consolidate multiple players with some draft picks just to fill that gaping hole Kuminga would have filled. This whole situation just screams “work to be done” for their front office. Meanwhile, Kuminga brings some solid production to Minnesota. Last season, playing for both Golden State and Atlanta, he averaged 12.2 points per game. He was a bit more efficient with the Hawks, but his career numbers are strong: 12.5 points per game, shooting 33.2 percent from deep and 50.2 percent from the field, plus 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
So, the Timberwolves just got a dynamic, athletic forward who chose them over more money and a bigger market, all for the sake of future control. What’s next? The Wolves are gonna need to figure out that payroll puzzle fast, and the Lakers are left picking up the pieces, facing some tough roster decisions as they scramble to fill the gaps Kuminga was supposed to cover.
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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