Jonathan Kuminga’s next stop is Minnesota, and Anthony Edwards played a central role in getting him there.
Kuminga accepted a two-year, $12 million offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves this week after turning down more money from the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls. According to Aaron Turner, Edwards was “super active in the recruitment” of Kuminga, helping push a pitch that emphasized fit, trust and a defined role more than the size of the contract.
The decision gives Minnesota a young forward with high-end tools and a reputation that has long come with questions about usage. Kuminga spent his first four-and-a-half seasons with the Golden State Warriors before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February, and his next chapter arrives after a stretch in which his place in an NBA rotation and his long-term offensive ceiling have both been debated.
Why Minnesota won the pitch
The Timberwolves did not simply sell Kuminga on money. They made defense, accountability and size part of the message, a package that mattered to a player who has often been discussed as a possible featured scorer. Turner said Edwards focused on the defensive end of the floor, noting that the message inside the recruitment centered on how Minnesota would “really guard here.”
That approach appears to have matched what Kuminga was looking for. Turner said the two sat in the gym this week and he asked Kuminga what the best basketball situation was. Kuminga answered, “Minnesota.” In Turner’s view, that settled the issue.
“Well, nothing else matters. Why would you go anywhere else?” Turner said, describing the reaction inside the room as a sign of mutual belief. He also called it “such a solid respect factor from top to bottom” and said, “This is your chance to go to a place you can feel believed in.”
What the Timberwolves are betting on
Minnesota also pointed to Kuminga’s 2025 playoff production against Golden State and the team’s offseason losses of Julius Randle and Naz Reid as part of its pitch. That combination matters because it frames Kuminga not just as a depth addition, but as a player who could help replace some of the athleticism and frontcourt versatility Minnesota has lost.
The fit is still something to watch. Kuminga has been valued for his explosiveness and upside, but the conversation around him has often centered on how to maximize him within a winning structure. The Timberwolves clearly believe that structure is already in place.
For Minnesota, the signing is also a reminder that recruiting can come from inside the locker room as much as from the front office. Edwards’ involvement helped make the case, and Kuminga’s answer suggests that the Timberwolves’ pitch on role, defense and belief carried real weight.
The contract is modest by NBA standards, but the bet is clear: if Kuminga fits the way Minnesota expects, the Timberwolves may have landed a useful piece without needing to outspend everyone else.
