Kuminga joins Edwards and LaMelo at Minnesota Timberwolves

Free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, 23, has agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal includes a player option for the second season, giving him the chance to re-enter free agency next summer.

Kuminga chose Minnesota despite the Los Angeles Lakers offering a financially more attractive three-year contract. The deciding factor was the opportunity to take over the starting power forward role alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

Roster moves ahead

To clear both a roster spot and salary-cap room for the newcomer, the Timberwolves plan to trade or waive reserve forward Josh Green before Saturday's deadline. Team leader Anthony Edwards, club president Tim Connelly and head coach Chris Finch were all actively involved in recruiting Kuminga. Minnesota used its last major financial tool, the taxpayer midlevel exception, to secure the deal alongside a guaranteed role.

A turbulent stretch

The contract closes out a turbulent period in Kuminga's career. Last summer, after lengthy negotiations, he re-signed with the Golden State Warriors, who had selected him seventh overall in the 2021 NBA draft. However, following a falling-out, the Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks in February in a deal involving Kristaps Porzingis. Kuminga helped Atlanta reach the playoffs, but the Hawks declined to pick up his $24.3 million contract extension option at the end of June, making him an unrestricted free agent.

In recent weeks, the Lakers had been the most active suitor, attempting to arrange a three-team sign-and-trade with the Hawks, but the parties could not agree on mutually acceptable terms. Kuminga has played 334 NBA games in his career, including 40 playoff appearances. His career highlight came in the second round of the 2025 playoffs against Minnesota, when he averaged 20.3 points per game against the very team he is now joining.