MINNEAPOLIS — On Thursday at Target Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves formally introduced Jonathan Kuminga, the 23-year-old forward who agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the team on Aug. 26. The second year of the deal is a player option.
Kuminga described how Minnesota recruited him while speaking with reporters at the news conference, Dave Campbell of The Associated Press reported. Tim Connelly, Minnesota’s president of basketball operations, and basketball operations assistant Alonzo Gee both visited him in Miami. Guards LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards called him regularly during free agency.
“Especially Ant, he called me every single time,” Kuminga said. “He checked up on me, and he was a very, very genuine person. He didn’t have to do that. That just shows how much he wants to bring me over here.”
On Tuesday, the Timberwolves released video of Edwards greeting Kuminga at Mayo Clinic Square. The conversations with the Wolves during free agency went beyond basketball to raising young children and going fishing.
“Them wanting me to be here, it felt real, and they were very genuine people, and these are people you could sit down with and have a conversation,” Kuminga explained. “I think that’s when I felt the vibe.”
Minnesota Timberwolves Used Limited Cap Space On Jonathan Kuminga After LaMelo Ball Trade
In a four-team trade made official July 10, Minnesota acquired Ball from the Charlotte Hornets and sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. Charlotte received Naz Reid and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick. The Hornets also got first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, plus three second-round picks.
Randle started all 79 of his games for Minnesota last season and averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Reid averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 77 games, 74 of them off the bench.
The Wolves also pursued LeBron James this summer, the AP reported, though the front office knew it was a long shot. James announced on July 24 that he was signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Minnesota had limited cap space left and spent it on Kuminga. The team’s existing relationship with his agent, Aaron Turner, gave the two sides a starting point, according to the AP. Connelly said the people in the front office “liked the person.”
“Just kind of being ourselves and telling him how we envisioned our team helping him and how we envisioned him helping our team,” Connelly said. “Just trying to be honest and as clear and transparent as possible.”
Edwards made the All-Star team last season and averaged 28.8 points in 61 games. In 73 starts, Jaden McDaniels averaged 14.8 points. Minnesota acquired Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls at the February trade deadline, and he put up 14.4 points per game over 24 games with the Wolves.
Kuminga Played For Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks Last Season
The Golden State Warriors drafted Kuminga seventh overall in 2021 with a pick that originally belonged to Minnesota. He won an NBA championship as a rookie. In 2023-24, he started 46 of 74 games and averaged a career-high 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
A right ankle injury cost him much of the 2024-25 season, when he averaged 15.3 points in 47 games. Last season, he fell out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. He played in only seven of his final 38 games with Golden State, according to the AP. On Jan. 22, he bruised a bone in his left knee in a road game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Golden State traded Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis in February. Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 16 regular-season games with Atlanta. He added 13.7 points per game in a six-game first-round loss to the New York Knicks.
He became an unrestricted free agent when the Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option for 2026-27 on June 29. Through five NBA seasons, Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 294 games.
Minnesota went 49-33 last season and reached the Western Conference semifinals. Kuminga went into free agency wanting to join a winning culture.
“I know what it takes to win, and I think just me including myself with those guys, I think we have a chance of going far,” Kuminga said. “I think just me bringing my mentality to what they have already, I think we can do such a great job out here.”
Kuminga will wear No. 24 for the Wolves. NBA training camps open Sept. 29. Minnesota opens the regular season Oct. 21 at the Miami Heat at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Wolves’ home opener at Target Center is Oct. 25.
