Jonathan Kuminga Signs Two-Year, $13 Million Deal With Minnesota Timberwolves

Jonathan Kuminga signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves using the taxpayer mid-level exception, according to Yahoo Sports. The signing settles the forward's free agency after a summer-long wait that marked the second consecutive offseason in which Kuminga lingered on the market. Anthony Edwards helped recruit Kuminga, who accepted less money per year in exchange for a shorter deal, according to Yahoo Sports. The Timberwolves will likely need to trade Donte DiVincenzo or Josh Green, or waive-and-stretch Green, to create the necessary cap space below the second apron, per the reporting. Kuminga's path to Minnesota began with his selection by the Golden State Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis before the trade deadline. In 16 regular-season games with Atlanta at 22.1 minutes per game, Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 47.6 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three, and 70.2 percent from the free throw line, per Yahoo Sports. The Hawks declined his team option, allowing him to enter free agency. A year prior, as a restricted free agent, Phoenix and Sacramento each offered Kuminga more than $60 million in guarantees, according to Yahoo Sports. He declined both offers and re-signed with Golden State on a one-year, $23.8 million deal with a team option. That choice preceded this summer's quieter market reception and shorter contract term. Minnesota remade its roster by trading Naz Reid and Julius Randle and replacing them with Ball and Kuminga, per Yahoo Sports reporting. Yahoo Sports describes the configuration as one of the Western Conference's highest-risk, highest-reward teams, with Kuminga positioned as an unproven piece on a roster centered around an injury-prone All-Star.