On Wednesday, Jonathan Kuminga reportedly turned down the Los Angeles Lakers’ offer of at least $12 million annually for three years in favor of a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 23-year-old forward chose to join Anthony Edwards in Minnesota rather than take his talents to Los Angeles, Portland, or Chicago.
A few hours later, three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas bluntly reacted to Kuminga’s decision.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Lakers Snub for $13M Timberwolves Deal Sparks Brutal Reaction From Gilbert Arenas
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Kuminga’s new deal with Minnesota includes a player option for the second year, giving him “ability to have more control of his future.”
The Lakers’ proposed offer would have paid him significantly more guaranteed money, but it also would have given the team greater control over his future.
That trade-off mattered to Kuminga, who prioritized control throughout his recent contract saga.
In the summer of 2025, Kuminga received a $7.9 million qualifying offer from the Golden State Warriors, who selected him No. 7 in the 2021 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 wing also refused for months to accept the franchise’s improved offer of roughly $45 million with team control in the second year.
Kuminga eventually agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million contract that gave the Warriors control over the final season. Golden State later traded him and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2026 for Kristaps Porziņģis.
Four months later, Atlanta declined Kuminga’s second-year option.
That history helps explain why the player option in Minnesota’s offer could have carried significant weight for Kuminga.
Kuminga chose the Timberwolves over offers from the Lakers, Bulls and Trail Blazers — bypassing a similar starting role and $12M-plus annually over three years in L.A. to land in Minnesota for a shorter-term deal and an ability to have more control of his future, sources said. https://t.co/Nq9byvxkII
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2026
According to The New York Times, joining the Lakers would have required a sign-and-trade “on a three-year contract,” which would have given Los Angeles at least two years of team control.
Arenas, however, focused on the money Kuminga left on the table and could not resist taking a shot at the young forward.
“Bro, you just signed a podcast deal. Oh, this is crazy. How does your contracts keep getting worse?! … You did all this waiting — we over here fighting for you — for you to sign a Costco member’s deal?” Arenas said.
“… Bro, if we know you were selling [expletive] this low, bro, one of them 1980s contracts, 10 years, 10 million, bro, you would have been signed a long time ago. Who is your agent?”
This man Just signed a podcast Deal 🤦🏾♂️👀 Johnathan Kuminga i can make you a better offer (Dont sign) and u do GilsArena with me (Kuminga Arena) #soundsaboutright 💯 🗣️ @playmaker Meet me at his house and bring the check book 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/s8e3ZZsFlz
— Gilbert Arenas (@NoChillGilZero) August 27, 2026
The “Gil’s Arena” host also argued that Kuminga had more leverage than the final deal suggested. Arenas pointed to the forward’s strong play in Atlanta as a reason he could have pushed for more money.
For Kuminga, though, the decision appears to have been less about maximizing his salary and more about securing control over what comes next. Arenas clearly disagrees with that calculation, but Kuminga has already made his choice.
