MANILA — Jonathan Kuminga will try to revive his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves after agreeing to a two-year, $13-million deal that gives the former seventh overall pick another opportunity to secure a consistent role following unsettled stints with Golden State and Atlanta.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the 23-year-old forward agreed to join Minnesota after the Atlanta Hawks declined their team option on him, allowing Kuminga to enter free agency.
Kuminga reportedly drew interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers before ultimately choosing a Timberwolves squad coming off another deep postseason run.
The move places Kuminga alongside All-Star Anthony Edwards and newly acquired point guard LaMelo Ball as Minnesota looks to strengthen a roster that finished last season with a 49-33 record and reached the Western Conference semifinals.
For Kuminga, the deal represents another chance to establish himself after his once-promising tenure with the Golden State Warriors took a sharp turn last season.
The Warriors selected Kuminga seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, but his role diminished significantly before he was dealt to Atlanta ahead of the February trade deadline in a package involving Kristaps Porzingis.
Kuminga appeared in only 20 games for Golden State last season before the trade.
He played 16 games for the Hawks and averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, but Atlanta opted not to retain him after reshaping its roster with the addition of Aaron Wiggins and several recent draft selections.
The Hawks finished the season at 46-36 and returned to the playoffs under head coach Quin Snyder, but were eliminated in the opening round.
Minnesota, meanwhile, posted a 49-33 record and secured its fifth consecutive playoff appearance before bowing out in the Western Conference semifinals.
With Edwards and Ball expected to carry much of Minnesota’s offensive load, Kuminga could provide the Timberwolves with additional athleticism and scoring from the forward position as he attempts to carve out a more stable role.
After struggling to find continuity with the Warriors and Hawks, Kuminga will now look to turn Minnesota into the fresh start his career needs.
In other NBA developments, the New Orleans Pelicans signed Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year contract, while the Warriors inked Brandon Williams and Georges Niang to one-year deals./PN
