Jonathan Kuminga’s new deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves may not lock him in for the long haul, and his agent is already pointing to where the next big payday could come from.
Kuminga signed a two-year contract with Minnesota, but the second season is a player option worth about $6.4 million. If he puts together a strong year, that option is widely expected to be something he declines in 2027.
That possibility came up recently on FanDuel’s Run It Back, where Chandler Parsons spoke with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner. Turner named two teams that could have the kind of cap space to chase Kuminga next summer.
"Money coming before basketball is not how you continue to make more and more money," Turner said. "Next year is a way better free agency year for him...teams that have been trying to sign-and-trade for him, like Sacramento and Chicago, will have a lot of money."
The Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls are both expected to have more salary cap room in the 2027 offseason than the Timberwolves, who may have a harder time matching outside offers while staying under the second apron.
Turner’s comments also shed light on why Kuminga passed on a three-year extension with the Golden State Warriors that was reportedly worth $75 million. Golden State eventually dealt him to the Atlanta Hawks in February, and Atlanta turned down his $24.3 million team option this offseason. That led Kuminga to Minnesota on a much smaller deal.
At 24 years old on October 6, Kuminga now lands in a situation that looks far cleaner than the one he left behind. In Golden State, he was in Steve Kerr’s doghouse at times. In Minnesota, he’s a starter and doesn’t have to wonder about a DNP-CD or a quick hook after a mistake.
Sacramento had already been linked to Kuminga in trade talks before, including scenarios that would have sent Malik Monk and draft capital to the Warriors. Chicago was also among the teams that reportedly put a deal on the table for him this offseason before he chose the Wolves.
Both of those clubs are expected to be in the lottery again this season, while Minnesota, barring a major collapse, should be headed for the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Kuminga may decide that winning matters enough to keep the price a little lower in Minnesota, the same way he just did. If he doesn’t, the Timberwolves could be shopping for a starting power forward again next offseason.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Still Face One Brutal Question After Their Splashy Offseason
The Timberwolves spent the offseason making noise, landing LaMelo Ball in a trade and signing Jonathan Kuminga in a clear push to raise the ceiling of a team that already has a strong young core. On paper, those moves give Minnesota more shot creation, more athleticism and a more dynamic path toward contention, which is exactly the kind of swing a franchise takes when it believes the window is opening.
Still, the bigger picture around the West has not gotten much easier for Minnesota. Even with the new arrivals, the Timberwolves are viewed as a step behind the Spurs and Thunder when it comes to the blend of talent, depth and long-term flexibility, and that gap matters because the Wolves do not have the same kind of extra ammo to keep upgrading. The question now is whether this offseason was the start of a true climb or close to the last major push they can make for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Final Roster Spot Suddenly Carries A Familiar Possibility
The Timberwolves still have one open roster spot, and the cap math leaves them room to keep it that way. Sitting $4.5 million below the second tax apron, Minnesota can carry as many as 15 players, which means the final decision does not have to come with immediate financial pressure attached. That gives the front office some flexibility as the roster takes shape, and it has also kept alive the idea that the last spot could be used on a veteran who brings stability more than upside.
Among the names drawing conversation is a familiar one, with the possibility of a reunion adding a layer of intrigue to an otherwise straightforward roster question. For Minnesota, the appeal is easy to see: a former Timberwolves big man with years of NBA experience, three All-Star nods on his rsum and a reputation as a steady locker-room presence could give the bench another voice and another option in the frontcourt. The only real question now is whether the team wants to use that last opening on a proven veteran fit or keep it available for something else later. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Pick Is Suddenly Raising Doubts About Ever Joining Minnesota
Trey Kaufman-Renns situation has turned into one of the more unusual side stories around Minnesotas offseason. Selected by the Timberwolves in the 2026 NBA Draft, he has already had a brief look with the organization through summer league, but his on-court role there was limited and his next step has not become any clearer as the calendar has moved along.
The bigger wrinkle is what comes next, since Kaufman-Renn is still unsigned well past the draft and is exploring another year in college instead of making the jump to Minnesota right away. For a team that would like draft picks to start mapping out their place in the roster, it leaves a real question hanging over whether he ever suits up for the Timberwolves at all. [Read more 🡒]