For the fans, NBA free agency is a relatively simple process that requires little thought. For the teams and players, however, negotiations can be very complex, and Jonathan Kuminga’s situation is arguably the most glaring recent example.
The former 7th overall pick just agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it only came after weeks of talks, negotiations, and meticulous planning on how to best maximize his earnings. In an appearance on the ‘Run it Back’ show on Friday, Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, broke down the process and revealed the factors that led to his critical decision this summer.
“Now he’s in a situation where he can bet on himself; he can put himself in a spot where ‘Okay, I can now dictate what happens to me, I can have some level of control over what moves forward,” said Turner on FanDuel TV. “There were the Lakers, and Chicago came in. Portland also came in, and they offered a good deal with a player option that was higher than Minnesota’s.”
“What it all came down to in the end was, JK, where do you feel comfortable that you can play and enjoy basketball? Then it goes back to the conversations with Ant, the conversations with Chris Finch, the dinners with Tim Connelly…. All of that stuff said to JK, where is the cleanest basketball with the best organizational alignment? Here, you have the owner, GM, head coach, and star player all in complete alignment that this is the guy that they want. When you factor that in with the basketball and the defensive excitement and what they want to do and how they want to play fast and unselfishly…”
With averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 46.3% shooting last season, Kuminga sees himself as a starting-caliber wing player, with a market value that’s well above the mid-level exception. Of course, Kuminga had to settle for a $12.1 million contract, but at least it’s only for one year, meaning he could negotiate better terms next summer.
While it’s not Kuminga’s preferred situation, it was better than what the Lakers were offering. Despite conversations with head coach JJ Redick and the promise of a starting role, Kuminga turned down the Purple and Gold, who wanted Kuminga on a longer deal. He could have earned more in the long run, but without the flexibility he so desperately wanted.
“He definitely spent a good amount of time talking with JJ, and there was a very clean role at the four, especially on the offensive side with the spacing and shooting they have, and allowing him to be a screener, cutter, pitching ahead and letting him play in transition,” Turner added. “It was tough from a basketball perspective between Minnesota and LA. Those were clearly the two cleanest basketball situations that offered different stuff. From the Lakers’ standpoint, if you’re gonna be below the mid-level, you’re not going to lock into that for too long.”
The most interesting bit of all this is how the Warriors were moving throughout the process. As the team that drafted Kuminga, they had multiple opportunities to sign him to an extension before trading him away, but there were mixed messages from the coach and front office as the team struggled to compete. By the end, the Warriors didn’t even bother to try keeping him around.
“There was never an offer from the Warriors for five years and $150 million. That never came on the table,” Turner said. “Last summer set the table for the weirdest negotiation of all-time, and something I said you’ll never see again, where a Hall of Fame coach comes out and says he doesn’t fit the roster, and on the flip side of that, you have the front office and owner offer him money in the 20s. JK could have and would have taken the [qualifying offer] last year, but in the end, the reality was he couldn’t bet on himself there because there was no bet to make. Money coming before basketball is not how you continue to make more and more money. Next year is a way better free agency for him.”
Despite playing just 36 games last season, Kuminga was clearly a hot target around the league, but no team was willing to fully meet his demands. That’s why the 6’7″ forward decided to bet on himself with a short-term deal that includes a player option for 2027-28. If he can step up in Minnesota and help them make a run in the West, there’s a good chance he’ll secure a more lucrative contract.
Ultimately, the important thing for Kuminga is that he’s free from the toxic situation in Golden State. After being exiled and dumped by the franchise that drafted him, he’s finally in a position to prove his worth and secure the kind of payday he’s been waiting his entire career for. Whether or not he’s successful in that mission depends entirely on his own performance and what role he plays on the new-look Timberwolves.