Jonathan Kuminga Agrees to Two-Year, $12.4 Million Deal With Timberwolves
Free-agent wing Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, his agent, Aaron Turner, told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday. The deal includes a player option for the second season.
Minnesota plans for Kuminga to compete for the vacant starting power forward role alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on an established Western Conference contender.
To finalize the transaction, the Timberwolves will explore trade scenarios involving reserve wing Josh Green. If they cannot find a trade destination for Green, the team could waive and stretch him before Saturday’s deadline, league sources told Charania.
Kuminga chose Minnesota over offers from the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers. He bypassed a similar starting opportunity with the Lakers, who were prepared to offer more than $12 million annually over three years in a sign-and-trade scenario.
Instead, Kuminga selected a shorter-term, prove-it contract with the Timberwolves. The structure gives him greater control over his future and could allow him to return to free agency next summer, league sources told Charania.
Timberwolves Made Strong Recruiting Push for Kuminga
Over the past month, Minnesota consistently pursued Kuminga, pairing its best remaining financial tool, the taxpayer midlevel exception, with a significant opportunity on the court. Edwards played a vocal role in the team’s recruiting effort.
Team president Tim Connelly traveled to Miami earlier this month for a four-hour meeting with Kuminga. The sixth-year wing also had productive conversations with coach Chris Finch, league sources said.
The agreement concludes Kuminga’s second consecutive prolonged free-agency process. Last summer, lengthy negotiations with the Golden State Warriors in restricted free agency continued into October training camp.
The Warriors initially presented a three-year, $75 million framework with a team option for the third season. They eventually re-signed Kuminga to a two-year, $46.8 million contract with a team option for the second season, with Kuminga choosing the two-year structure.
Kuminga Moves on After Stops With Warriors and Hawks
Kuminga’s difficult relationship with the Warriors, who selected him No. 7 overall, ended in February when Golden State traded him to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis.
Kuminga contributed to Atlanta’s push to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 13.7 points in 26 minutes off the bench during the Hawks’ six-game first-round series loss to the New York Knicks.
Atlanta declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option in late June, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers pursued Kuminga most aggressively during the early weeks of free agency. General manager Rob Pelinka held multiple discussions with Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh about sign-and-trade possibilities, but the Lakers, Hawks and Kuminga could not reach an agreement acceptable to all three sides.
That opened the door for Minnesota to acquire Kuminga on a short-term contract. The Timberwolves are adding a 23-year-old wing with 334 career games played, including 40 playoff appearances.
Kuminga’s most notable stretch came against his new team. As a member of the Warriors during the 2025 playoffs, he averaged 20.3 points on 54.3% shooting in a second-round series loss to Minnesota.
Source: www.espn.com
