Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After remaining one of the biggest names available in free agency deep into the 2026 offseason, Kuminga has finally found his next NBA destination, although the agreement has created an immediate financial challenge for Minnesota.
Timberwolves Face Payroll Challenge to Sign Jonathan Kuminga
Minnesota plans to use the $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception to bring Kuminga aboard on the agreed terms. However, the Timberwolves must first clear enough salary because they currently do not have sufficient second-apron flexibility to complete the transaction.
Josh Green and Donte DiVincenzo appear to be the most obvious players Minnesota could move to create the necessary financial room and finalize Kuminga’s arrival. NBA insider Brett Siegel provided an update on the situation.
“The Timberwolves have until the end of August to decide on whether to trade or ultimately waive-and-stretch Josh Green to have enough financial flexibility to sign Jonathan Kuminga,” Siegel wrote.
Kuminga had been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers for months and was widely tipped to land in Los Angeles instead of Minnesota. However, the former Golden State Warriors forward ultimately chose the Timberwolves as his next destination.
With the move now agreed upon, Kuminga is expected to join Minnesota’s starting lineup alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert as the Timberwolves look to compete near the top of the Western Conference.
Gilbert Arenas Blasts Jonathan Kuminga’s Contract
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas also reacted to Kuminga’s new contract on social media, expressing disbelief that the young forward ultimately settled for such a modest deal after spending so much time waiting for a better opportunity.
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“Bro, you just signed a podcast deal,” Arenas said. “This is crazy. How does your contract keep getting worse? You were just balling in Atlanta. You did all this waiting, all this fighting, for you to sign a Costco members deal? Two-year, $13 million? Bro! The Lakers! We got $15 people under contract making more than this.
“If we had known you were selling a– this low, one of them 1980 contracts, 10 years, $10 million, you would have been signed a long time ago. Who is your agent?”
The criticism comes after Kuminga reportedly turned down a $30 million-per-year contract extension offer from the Warriors in 2024 because he was pursuing a maximum contract worth around $44.8 million annually.
Now, only two years later, Kuminga has agreed to a deal with Minnesota worth roughly $6.5 million per year.