NBA rumors: The trade Timberwolves will try to make to create space needed to sign Jonathan Kuminga

Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kuminga notified the Timberwolves of his decision on Wednesday evening, choosing Minnesota over the Los Angeles Lakers despite the fact that the Lakers could have offered him more money.

However, financially speaking, per HoopsHype, completing the signing isn’t automatic. To fit the $12 million deal under the second apron, the Wolves need to shed roughly $3 million and will have to make a corresponding roster move.

The most likely path is trading veteran Josh Green, who carries a $14.6 million salary, for a player making less money. Alternatively, the team could waive and stretch Green’s salary to create the necessary cap room.

At 23, Kuminga fits the age curve of Minnesota’s core, aligning closely with Edwards, Ball and Jaden McDaniels, who are all 25. He was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft and spent four and a half seasons with Golden State as part of the Warriors.

His Warriors tenure included a championship but also stretches outside Steve Kerr’s rotation. In February, Kuminga was traded to Atlanta along with Buddy Hield in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis, a deal that came less than five months after he and Golden State had agreed to a two-year, nearly $50 million contract with a Year 2 team option. Atlanta declined that option in late June.

Kuminga’s stint in Atlanta was limited: 16 regular-season games at 12.3 points per game. He was more productive in the playoffs, reaching double figures in five of the Hawks’ six postseason games in April, including a 21-point outing that helped Atlanta take a 2-1 first-round lead over the eventual champion New York Knicks.

Last season, split between Golden State and Atlanta, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. Needless to say, Kuminga has once again bet on himself and will be looking for a starter role with the Timberwolves, something he may not have been guaranteed at the Lakers.

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