Jonathan Kuminga’s next stop is Minnesota.
The 23-year-old forward has agreed to a two-year deal to join the Timberwolves, team sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday. The deal is for $12 million and includes a player option for Year 2, according to those sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is not finalized.
ESPN first reported Kuminga’s decision.
Kuminga had been connected to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers at times during the offseason. He was thought to have been a target for the Cavs before they acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in August. The Athletic had reported on the Lakers’ interest in Kuminga earlier this summer, but it appeared that momentum has stalled in the weeks leading up to Kuminga’s decision to join the Timberwolves.
After an up-and-down tenure with the Golden State Warriors that included an NBA championship and also extended time outside of Steve Kerr’s rotation, Kuminga was traded in February, along with Buddy Hield, to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis. That move came less than five months after Kuminga and the Warriors agreed to a two-year deal worth nearly $50 million, including a team option for Year 2, after prolonged contract negotiations during his restricted free agency over the summer.
The Hawks declined that team option in late June. Kuminga played in just 16 regular-season games for the Hawks, averaging 12.1 points per contest. He reached double figures in five of Atlanta’s six playoff games in April, including a 21-point performance to help give the Hawks a 2-1 first-round series lead over the eventual champion New York Knicks. Atlanta, however, would lose the next three games of the series.
As a rookie in 2021-22, Kuminga played in 70 regular-season games for the Warriors en route to Golden State’s fourth title of the Steph Curry era.
This story will be updated.
