Are the Timberwolves close to landing Jonathan Kuminga?
The Minnesota Timberwolves might not be done making moves after an already busy offseason.
Their offseason got underway before the draft as they wasted no time trading starting power forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary dump. The team attached a first-round pick and got a second-round pick in return.
Days later, they traded backup power forward Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets for point guard LaMelo Ball and shooting guard Josh Green.
The two moves have left the Timberwolves thin at forward, but a proven rotation player is still on the market who could fill that void.
Jonathan Kuminga Still An Option?
On the Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst gave an update on former Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose options seem to be down to the Los Angeles Lakers and Timberwolves.
Windhorst noted that the Lakers could still work out a sign-and-trade with the Hawks to land Kuminga, but that the Hawks would be paying a tax bill if they took back salary, which he doesn’t believe they want to do, and that they would have to really like the deal in order to pay that tax.
On top of that, a sign-and-trade would limit Kuminga to a three-year deal with no player option, which wouldn’t give him control of his contract. Kuminga saw his team option declined by the Hawks in the offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Timberwolves do have $6 million in mid-level exception money to offer Kuminga, which would be less than he could get in a sign-and-trade that puts him on the Lakers, but would give him more control moving forward.
The Better Opportunity?
Kuminga would likely start on both teams, though a starting spot on the Timberwolves is much more likely given their lack of depth at forward and need for a player like Kuminga.
Right now, the Timberwolves are either starting Trey Lyles at the four or running three guards with Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Ayo Dosunmu and starting Jaden McDaniels at the four. Kuminga fits much better than either option.
On the Lakers, he would likely start over Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jake LaRavia, or Quentin Grimes, but that’s not a full guarantee, and the team could find more value with him coming off the bench.
Even if he starts on the Lakers, they have more options to replace him if things go wrong, while the Timberwolves will give him a longer leash as they need it to work.
The Timberwolves also offer a better playstyle: they'll play fast and run in transition, while the Lakers are more methodical with Luka Doncic at the helm.
If Kuminga wants to prove his value in the league, the Timberwolves give him a better shot.
