The Los Angeles Lakers might not be the favorites anymore, and they are definitely not alone in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Minnesota Timberwolves have now entered the race for the 23-year-old forward after they missed out on LeBron James in free agency. The Lakers do remain in a stronger financial position, but the Timberwolves offer a different kind of opportunity.
“After missing out on their pursuit of LeBron James, the Minnesota Timberwolves have also expressed interest in Kuminga with their starting power forward spot up for grabs and their $6.06 million taxpayer mid-level exception available for the taking, league sources told HoopsHype.”
“While the Lakers have a significantly higher financial offer and longer contract on the table, and Cleveland can also offer a significantly higher salary via a sign-and-trade, Minnesota’s interest is still noteworthy, given the basketball fit. “
Kuminga remains one of the NBA’s most promising young forwards.
At just 23 years old, he has elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and great upside, despite a rocky start to his career. Last season, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range across time with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
But his best season came in 2023-24. That year, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 52.9% from the field. Those flashes show exactly why the Lakers have made him one of their biggest offseason priorities.
Since LeBron left for the Philadelphia 76ers and Rui Hachimura left for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers have been searching for an athletic starting forward who can play alongside Luka Doncic and become a foundational piece.
Kuminga checks many of those boxes, and therefore the Lakers are ready to offer him a much larger contract than the Timberwolves can. The Cleveland Cavaliers are also believed to be in the race, and they can also offer a larger deal than the Wolves.
But money might not be the deciding factor.
There’s one major catch with a sign-and-trade agreement. Under the new CBA rules, any player acquired through a sign-and-trade must sign a contract for at least three years.
If Kuminga believes that his current market value or the offers he’s getting from the Lakers or Cavaliers are not up to the mark, committing to a below-market three-year deal right now is definitely not in his best interest.
So, the Wolves can offer a different path. By signing the Timberwolves’ $6.06 million taxpayer mid-level exception, Kuminga would be free to re-enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027.
If he breaks out in a larger role, he could set himself up for a much larger payday than the contracts currently being discussed.
The basketball opportunity is also quite attractive. The Wolves have an opening at starting power forward after they traded Naz Reid away in the LaMelo Ball trade. That gives Kuminga a chance to step directly into the first unit instead of battling over time to earn that role.
A starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Rudy Gobert would definitely be one of the most athletic groups in the NBA. That combination would offer great transition play, defensive versatility, length and explosive scoring, which would make the Timberwolves a very dangerous team in the Western Conference.
For the Lakers, the equation remains pretty straightforward.
If they can offer Kuminga more money, which is reportedly the reason why the negotiations are still ongoing, they can land a young forward next to Luka Doncic and begin their new era. But if they’re unable to do so, the Wolves might give themselves a real chance.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers also in the picture and the Minnesota Timberwolves just entering the race, what once looked like a clear path for the Lakers has become much more complicated.
As it stands, the race for Jonathan Kuminga might just be getting started.
