Jonathan Kuminga’s best path with the Minnesota Timberwolves starts with the simplest part of the game: letting LaMelo Ball set the table.
That was the clear takeaway from Kuminga’s introductory press conference, where he didn’t hide how much Ball’s passing stood out to him. Kuminga said Ball’s ability to deliver the ball is what he’s most excited about, and he made it plain that he sees something different in the way LaMelo creates for others.
“I think his ability to pass the ball, I was watching him work out yesterday and I was watching him and the way he can pass the ball, it’s incredible," Kuminga said. "I’ve played with so many point guards in my career, but I’ve never played with anybody that can pass as good as LaMelo. I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited."
That kind of praise matters because it points straight to why this pairing can work. Kuminga is at his best when he’s attacking space, getting downhill, and turning athletic advantages into easy points.
Ball is built to make that happen. He has a gift for finding athletic forwards on the move, and Kuminga fits that lane cleanly.
There are fair questions about Kuminga’s shot selection, but Ball’s playmaking can smooth out a lot of that. Instead of asking Kuminga to force offense on his own, Ball can put him in position to finish plays at the rim or attack with a head start.
That shift matters. It nudges Kuminga away from doing too much and toward doing what he does best.
LaMelo’s biggest strength has always been his passing, even with his scoring ability. During his time with the Charlotte Hornets, he consistently made teammates better, and last season was the clearest example of that. Charlotte’s offense was 11.6 points per 100 possessions better with Ball on the court, per Cleaning the Glass.
The numbers around his teammates back that up too. Kon Knueppel shot 10.3 percent better from 3-point land with Ball on the court, and Miles Bridges’ true shooting percentage improved by 9.1 percent with LaMelo on the floor, according to Databallr.
That Bridges example is the one that jumps out here. Bridges and Kuminga share a lot of the same athletic-forward DNA, which makes the comparison useful. Whether it’s running the floor in transition or carving out easy looks in the half-court, Ball has already shown he can unlock that type of player.
The obvious pushback is Kuminga’s time with Steph Curry. If that didn’t fully click, why would this be different?
It’s a fair question. Curry’s shooting gravity is unlike anything else, and his presence naturally opens the floor in ways very few players can.
But Ball creates in a different way. He doesn’t just stretch defenses with his shooting; he directly delivers open shots to teammates. And the Golden State Warriors’ system also asked every player to make difficult reads as a playmaker, which wasn’t an ideal setup for Kuminga.
With the Timberwolves, the fit looks cleaner. Kuminga’s strengths can be put on display, and some of his weaker spots can be hidden as long as he doesn’t try to take over the offense as a creator.
If it all comes together, Kuminga can settle into the role of an athletic play-finisher who can still create a little for himself when needed. Pair that with Ball and Edwards in the backcourt, and Minnesota has the kind of group that can give defenses a long night.
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Lakers Still Have One Roster Problem They Need To Solve Fast
Jonathan Kuminga is headed to Minnesota on a two-year deal, and the Timberwolves are already planning to use him as part of their starting group. For a team trying to keep building around length, athleticism and defensive versatility, adding a wing with Kumingas profile fits the broader direction and gives Minnesota another piece to slot into the mix before camp fully settles in.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are left sorting through the fallout after missing out on that move and still have a roster issue they need to clean up quickly. They are working the trade market with Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt as they try to strengthen their wing and forward spots before the season starts, a reminder that the margins around the roster are still very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Faces The One Wolves Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Minnesotas front office already made one major pivot this summer, moving Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets before turning around and signing Jonathan Kuminga in free agency. It was a clean break on paper, a chance for the Timberwolves to reset the frontcourt mix and try to add a different kind of athleticism and upside around their core.
The concern, though, is less about talent than fit. Kuminga brings the kind of ability that can change a game, but the Wolves have watched how quickly a player can bog down an offense when the role is not fully embraced. If he slips into the same kind of ball-dominant habits and mental mistakes that frustrated Minnesota with Randle, the team could be right back where it started, which is why how Kuminga handles his place in the offense matters so much. [Read more 🡒]
Jaden McDaniels Could Be The Wolves Answer To A Real Roster Concern
The Timberwolves have spent much of the offseason looking at a familiar roster question: what happens behind Rudy Gobert when the lineup needs a true backup center? Chris Finch has already acknowledged the team may need to get creative, and that conversation has included the possibility of leaning on Jaden McDaniels in a small-ball role while also mixing in more zone defense to cover some of the frontcourt gaps.
McDaniels has always stood out as one of Minnesotas most versatile defenders, and last seasons rim-protection numbers only strengthen the case for him as a situational answer when the Wolves want to change the shape of the floor. It is not a permanent fix and it would not solve every depth concern, but it gives Finch another lever to pull if the backup big picture gets thin at the wrong time. [Read more 🡒]