Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency has narrowed into a two-team squeeze, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are still very much in the mix even if they may not be his first choice.
Jake Fischer said during a Bleacher Report livestream on Tuesday that Kuminga’s decision appears to be coming down to Minnesota or Los Angeles. Fischer added that Kuminga has seemed to prefer the Lakers, who have been pitching him on a path that could put him in the starting lineup next to Luka Doncic.
“For Kuminga, I still think his situation comes down to Minnesota or Los Angeles,” Fischer said. “Kuminga has seemed to prefer going to the Lakers.
They have the most opportunity to negotiate there... The Lakers have been selling him on this vision of having him start next to Luka.
They’re going to have the spending power, in theory, to reward him next year. That’s going to come to some type of conclusion soon.”
That doesn’t shut Minnesota out. Far from it. The Timberwolves still have a real shot, and that matters because they need help at power forward.
Both the Lakers and Timberwolves appear to have a starting role waiting for Kuminga, though the picture is a little clearer in Los Angeles. The Lakers’ current projected starter at the four is Jake LaRavia. Minnesota’s starter at that spot remains unknown.
The catch is financial. Neither team can offer much more than a veteran’s minimum contract, which is a massive drop from the $24.3 million team option the Atlanta Hawks declined on Kuminga for the upcoming season. Without a sign-and-trade, he’s nowhere near the payday he likely had in mind when he hit free agency.
That’s why the next contract may be less about this season and more about positioning for the one after that. Kuminga may end up choosing the place that gives him the best chance to cash in next time he reaches free agency.
There’s obvious appeal in the Lakers’ pitch. Playing with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would give Kuminga a very different offensive setup, and he already spent his first 4.5 seasons alongside Stephen Curry.
Minnesota can offer its own selling point. LaMelo Ball may not carry the same draw, but with Anthony Edwards in the mix, the Timberwolves can offer a dynamic backcourt that could help create cleaner looks for Kuminga.
For now, the most likely outcome seems to be a short-term, prove-it deal. If that happens, Kuminga will already be looking ahead to 2027 free agency and the chance to land a much larger contract than a one-year minimum would allow.
The Timberwolves’ path to paying him next offseason also looks complicated, especially if Rudy Gobert is still on the books. Gobert has a $38 million player option, while Edwards, Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Ayo Dosunmu are under contract for 2027-28 at a combined $144.7 million.
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