Jonathan Kuminga Agrees to Two-Year, $13 Million Deal With Timberwolves

Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves that includes a player option, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, citing agent Aaron Turner. The Hawks declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option at the start of the offseason, which set up his path to unrestricted free agency. Kuminga split last season between Golden State and Atlanta after the Warriors traded him away, averaging 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds across the two stops.

He turned down more lucrative paths to get to Minnesota, including a reported Lakers sign-and-trade framework worth roughly three years and $12 million or more annually, along with interest from the Bulls and Trail Blazers. Charania reported that Kuminga will start at power forward, joining a lineup with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. Minnesota used the taxpayer mid-level exception, one of its top remaining financial tools, to land him, with Edwards and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly both directly involved in recruiting Kuminga over the past month, according to Charania.

“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,” Charania wrote.

Handing Kuminga a starting job right away means Minnesota is betting that his shot creation and interior scoring outweigh any spacing concerns next to Edwards and Ball, rather than easing him in off the bench. It also reshapes Minnesota’s frontcourt math, since whoever profiled as the incumbent starting power forward now shifts into a depth role behind him. A two-year structure with a player option gives both sides a fast exit if the fit does not work, letting Kuminga return to unrestricted free agency as soon as next summer while Minnesota avoids a long-term bet on an unproven role.

The report is sourced to Kuminga’s agent rather than a team or league transaction announcement, so the move is reported and agreed rather than officially finalized, and Minnesota’s transaction log is the next place to check for a formal signing.