Timberwolves' Jonathan Kuminga's agent reveals one-year plan in Minnesota that many suspected originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Jonathan Kuminga saga ended last week after a two-month process that seemed to go in every direction. The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers were among the first teams to make pitches to him.
The Cavaliers ultimately moved on to Peyton Watson, and it appeared that everything was lining up for the Lakers. However, the 23-year-old NBA champion ultimately decided to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. Kuminga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
Kuminga chose a smaller deal over what LA offered him, creating a significant difference in the money involved.
“Jonathan Kuminga reportedly turned down a three-year deal from the Lakers — which would have paid him more annually — in favor of signing with the Timberwolves. Kuminga preferred Minnesota, where he’ll earn $6.1M with a chance to hit unrestricted free agency again next summer,” NBA writer Jake Weinbach wrote.
In a recent interview with Chandler Parsons, Kuminga’s agent, Matt Turner, revealed what many had suspected. Turner essentially indicated that his client could opt out after one season, giving him another opportunity to enter free agency when teams that previously pursued him have more financial flexibility.
“Money coming before basketball is not how you continue to make more and more money. ... 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,” Turner said.
The Timberwolves should understand that this could ultimately be a one-year rental, and they may have been aware of that from the beginning. However, Minnesota protected itself somewhat by giving Kuminga a player option in case things do not work out as planned.
Kuminga’s agent has been in the spotlight since the signing, and his latest comments are sure to raise some questions about whether he is the best person to represent the young forward. Revealing a client’s potential short-term plans so publicly could create an unnecessary distraction, especially when Kuminga has only just arrived in Minnesota.
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