With training camp nearing and free agency running out of runway, Jonathan Kuminga remains one of the notable unsigned names on the board.
That matters because the options are getting thinner by the day. Outside of restricted free agents Jalen Duren and Bennedict Mathurin and veteran DeMar DeRozan, Kuminga is the player who stands out.
He’s coming off a solid second half of the season with the Atlanta Hawks last season, but after his team option was declined, he’s headed elsewhere. The catch is obvious: he wants both money and minutes, and this late in the offseason, teams are not exactly lining up with both.
That’s why the Minnesota Timberwolves make so much sense. They may not be the team that can hand him the biggest check, but they do have something that could matter just as much - a starting spot waiting for him if he’s willing to take a discount.
The clearest selling point is the immediate role. Kuminga could walk in and start on day one.
Sure, the Sacramento Kings or the Milwaukee Bucks might be able to offer that too, but those situations don’t carry the same kind of structure. And at this point, the league already knows Kuminga can score.
That part has never been the question. What teams want to see is whether he can settle into a role, do the other things consistently and make winning basketball look easy.
In Minnesota, that role would be defined from the jump. He would start at power forward and likely be asked to attack as an active cutter, knock down corner 3-pointers and handle some creation when LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards are out. He’d also need to bring a steadier defensive effort, because the physical tools are there for him to be elite on that end.
The bigger picture is even more important: Kuminga could play a real role on a contender. If he becomes a starter on a team that reaches the conference finals, or even goes beyond that, the way the league sees him could change fast.
If he goes down the Cam Thomas-esque road and chases volume scoring on bad teams, he may keep running into the same wall when teams try to figure out how to use him. But if he buys in on a winner, his reputation could rise in a hurry.
Chris Finch would push him, and push him hard. The expectation would be that Kuminga sharpens specific parts of his game instead of trying to do everything. If he can embrace that, the long-term payoff could be significant.
And then there’s the fit with LaMelo Ball, which might be the most fun part of all. The comparison to Miles Bridges is hard to miss. Both are explosive athletes, both thrive in transition, both can hit 3s inconsistently but well enough to matter, and both should be better defenders than they’ve shown based on pure physical ability.
Maybe Bridges never reached that defensive ceiling because of the culture in Charlotte. Maybe Kuminga’s uneven development in Golden State had more to do with role than talent. Either way, the expectation is that Kuminga would take a noticeable defensive step forward with the Wolves and the support structure around him.
Offensively, the pairing would be a show. Lobs, outlet passes, and easy finishes would come fast. Ball would give Kuminga the cleanest looks he’s had in the NBA, and the whole thing would look like a highlight reel waiting to happen.
Maybe Kuminga ends up somewhere else, whether the decision comes down to money or something different. But if he wants a guaranteed role and a chance to join a strong team that actually needs what he brings, turning down Minnesota would be a tough sell.
In Other News...
Chris Finch Just Tied A Vikings QB Debate To Wolves Fans Frustration
The Vikings wrapped up a joint practice with the Ravens this week as they get set for their Week 2 preseason game, and Kevin OConnell clarified where the quarterback picture stands for now. J.J. McCarthy is the backup and is expected to start the upcoming game, while the starter will not be available, keeping Minnesotas quarterback conversation very much alive as the preseason moves along.
Chris Finch, meanwhile, offered a pointed basketball parallel that should resonate with Timberwolves fans who have seen enough young-player growing pains to know how fragile development can be. The Wolves coach tied McCarthys situation to the way former Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham was brought along, suggesting both were placed in spots that may have made it harder to grow at the right pace. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Faces Another Costly Off-Court Spotlight
Anthony Edwards is back in an off-court story that carries real financial stakes, with a court sorting out support for his family obligations as the Timberwolves try to keep their focus on the floor. Edwards had already agreed to pay child support for another child with a different woman, and this latest case adds another layer to a situation that has been developing away from basketball.
The matter involving Alexandria Descroches also comes with additional court requirements beyond the monthly support payments, underscoring how much is still being resolved outside the game. For a player whose profile has grown with Minnesota, the attention now shifts to how these obligations will be handled and what comes next as this latest legal thread continues to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Connelly Just Became A Huge Wolves Ownership Story
Marc Lores decision to sell his controlling interest in the Timberwolves and Lynx to Marc Stad adds another layer to a franchise that has already spent plenty of time sorting out its future. Stad was already in the ownership mix, so this is more of a shift in control than a wholesale change in direction, but any transition at the top naturally turns the spotlight back to the people steering basketball decisions.
One of the biggest names in that conversation is Tim Connelly, who has made clear he is committed to Minnesota. His standing with the new ownership group now matters even more, though, because his long-term status is still not settled and the next chapter will depend on how quickly the sides can turn that interest into a new agreement. [Read more 🡒]