Why Jonathan Kuminga Signed With Wolves Over Lakers
ClutchPoints NBA Insiders Tomer Azarly and Brett Siegel discuss the latest on why Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a lesser deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves instead of a longer term deal with more money from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Video Transcript
Jonathan Kuminga said no to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kuminga reportedly had a three-year deal lined up with the Lakers that would have paid him $12 million annually.
Instead, Kuminga signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, paying him $6 million annually.
Why would Kuminga take so much less money to sign with the Wolves instead of the Lakers?
Between the Lakers and the Timberwolves, Minnesota offered the best chance for Jonathan Kuminga to play the most minutes and the biggest role right away, next to Jaden McDaniels as one of the key forwards for the Timberwolves.
Unlike the Lakers, who signed a bunch of forwards and wings this off-season in Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and they still have Jake LaRavia, Minnesota offers a chance for Kuminga to start right away and play upwards of 25 to 30 minutes every night.
Whereas in Los Angeles, Jonathan Kuminga would have held a key secondary role next to Austin Reaves and Luka Doni, but those minutes wouldn't have been guaranteed throughout the year.
He now joins a hungry and young Timberwolves team looking to make it back to the Western Conference finals for the third time in the last four seasons and make it to the NBA finals and finally get over the hump.
If Kuminga has a solid year with the Wolves, he might be in store for a massive payday next summer
