The Minnesota Timberwolves are still trying to round out their roster, and Jonathan Kuminga sits near the top of the list as the swing-for-the-fences option at power forward.
The catch is obvious. Minnesota doesn’t have the cap space to make a straightforward run at him, which means a sign-and-trade or another roster move would have to open the door.
Right now, the Wolves are only positioned to offer a veteran’s minimum contract. There are also real questions about how Kuminga would fit, especially because of the shot selection and ball-dominance that have followed him.
Even so, the path looks a little cleaner than it did before. Peyton Watson signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers gives Minnesota a better shot at landing Kuminga, and if he’s willing to accept a complementary role, the fit starts to make a lot more sense.
That’s where the Aaron Gordon comparison comes in. Steve Kerr pushed Kuminga to be more like Shawn Marion and Aaron Gordon, and while that message may not have landed then, it feels more relevant now. On a short-term prove-it deal with the Wolves, Kuminga wouldn’t have much choice but to embrace that kind of role anyway.
Gordon is the template here for a reason. Since 2021, he’s been a key piece of the Denver Nuggets’ success, doing the dirty work that keeps the whole thing humming: finishing at the rim, cutting, screening, connecting the offense, and defending hard. His shooting has improved recently, too.
But Gordon didn’t fully become this version of himself until Denver. Early on, he was pushed into a de facto No. 1 option role, and the rest of his game never got the proper spotlight. He was always better suited to being a high-end complementary player, and the Nuggets gave him the setting to become that.
Kuminga’s situation isn’t identical, mostly because he still wants to be a star. But if he’s willing to lean into a Gordon-type role, there’s a real chance he can thrive and eventually cash in. Minnesota, on paper, is a strong place for that transition.
There are reasons to be skeptical about whether Kuminga would actually swallow that pill. His time with the Golden State Warriors was rocky, and the Atlanta Hawks quickly moved on from him.
Still, the context matters. Golden State’s system is famously complicated, and it didn’t really play to Kuminga’s strengths.
Kerr’s rotation choices didn’t help either, since the constant minute shuffling made it hard for him to find any rhythm.
Chris Finch’s offense would be a much better match. Kuminga would also likely walk into the starting power forward job.
And he’s still young, turning 24 in October, which leaves room for growth. The Hawks, too, showed signs that he could buy into a more complementary setup.
If Kuminga signs a true prove-it deal, the incentive is clear: the best way to earn a bigger payday later is to prove he can thrive without needing the ball all the time. Being unsigned in August should already be a wake-up call.
Minnesota’s roster structure also changes the equation. Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels are the team’s top three scorers, so Kuminga wouldn’t be asked to step into a featured role.
That’s different from the Warriors, who often needed more creation around Stephen Curry. The Wolves don’t need that from Kuminga.
They need him to fit.
That means a less glamorous job, sure. But it may be the job that gives him the longest runway in the league.
And there’s a basketball case for it, too. Kuminga has never been shy about hunting his own shot, even when the shots aren’t always the right ones.
As a finisher, though, he could be dangerous. He’s an explosive athlete who could run the floor, attack as a lob threat, and finish plays alongside LaMelo.
Add in more cutting and off-ball movement, and the Aaron Gordon blueprint starts to look realistic.
He wouldn’t disappear as a scorer; he just wouldn’t be asked to lead with it.
The defensive upside is there as well. Kuminga has the tools to be a high-level defender and has flashed it, especially as an on-ball stopper. Last season, he ranked in the 85th percentile for matchup difficulty and the 86th percentile for perimeter isolation defense per Basketball Index.
The problem has been consistency, especially when he’s away from the ball. That’s another area where Minnesota could help. The Timberwolves’ defensive culture might be exactly what he needs.
Playing next to Rudy Gobert and McDaniels also gives him a clean fit. He could take on physical forwards, stay active off the ball, and slot into a role that matches the rest of the roster.
That blend of on-ball toughness and disruptive off-ball defense is straight out of the Gordon playbook.
If Kuminga is willing to embrace that version of himself, the Wolves could be the team that unlocks it.
In Other News...
Naz Reid Gets The Role Wolves Fans Always Wanted To See
Naz Reids move out of Minnesota sent him to Charlotte over the offseason, and it may have finally given him the kind of title Timberwolves fans long imagined for him. Instead of coming off the bench, Reid is expected to open the season as a full-time starter at power forward, a chance to show more of his game in a bigger role after years of carving out minutes as a valuable frontcourt piece in Minnesota.
Even so, the new label does not automatically guarantee a major jump in workload or production. Charlotte has plenty of big men in the mix, and that crowded frontcourt could keep Reids minutes and offensive chances closer to what he was seeing with the Wolves, leaving the real test to how much room there is for him to expand once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Bones Hyland Suddenly Carries A Huge Timberwolves Question
Bones Hyland has quietly become one of the more important reserve pieces for Minnesota, and the timing matters. With Naz Reid no longer in the mix, the Timberwolves are looking for someone who can help steady the second unit, keep the offense moving and give the bench a little more punch when the stars sit. Hyland has already flashed the kind of improved shooting and playmaking that can make that job possible.
The bigger question now is whether he can turn that progress into a consistent nightly role as the primary scorer and initiator off the bench. Minnesota does not need him to be a finished product, but it does need dependable production from its reserves, and Hylands ability to create and convert offense may go a long way toward determining how effective that group is going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Suddenly Feels Like A Real Wolves Gamble
The Timberwolves have been left with a glaring hole at power forward after moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid, and that has made the search for help feel more urgent than theoretical. With Minnesota still sorting out the shape of its frontcourt, any possible addition in that spot is going to draw attention, especially when it involves a young player with real upside and a chance to slide into a clear role.
Jonathan Kuminga has suddenly emerged as one of the more intriguing names in that conversation, with the fit hinging on whether he would be willing to come in on a minimum deal. NBA chatter has already put Minnesota on the map as a possible landing spot, and the next few days could clarify whether that interest becomes something more concrete or just another reminder of how thin the Wolves options are at the position. [Read more 🡒]