For the second straight year, Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency has dragged deep into the offseason. Last year, Kuminga did not agree to a new contract with the Golden State Warriors until the 30th of September. He was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2026.
However, Kuminga entered unrestricted free agency after the Hawks declined their team option. Now, he is yet to come to an agreement with any team, with September only a few days away. The former Warriors man is not without his suitors. But it looks like his decision will boil down to two playoff teams in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, which team has the leg up in the Kuminga sweepstakes?
Lakers and Timberwolves Compete for Jonathan Kuminga’s Services in Free Agency
The Lakers’ interest in Kuminga hasn’t been a secret at all, and their need to sign a combo forward to fill the team’s biggest void following the departures of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura remains.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves gutted their frontcourt to remodel the team this offseason. They traded away Julius Randle and Naz Reid to essentially pave the way for Ayo Dosunmu’s huge new contract as well as star point guard LaMelo Ball’s arrival from the Charlotte Hornets. Signing Kuminga would help address their need for a new power forward.
MORE: ‘Life-Changing Money’ – NBA Insider Predicts Jalen Duren to Ink Massive Deal Amid Offseason Saga
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, however, the 23-year-old forward’s preference is to sign with the Lakers.
“Comes down to Minnesota or Los Angeles,” Fischer said. “Kuminga, I think, has seemed to prefer going to the Lakers. They have the most opportunity to negotiate there. The Lakers have been selling him on the vision of having him start next to Luka. They’re gonna have the spending power in theory to reward him next year if all goes to plan.”
Jake Fischer says he thinks Kuminga prefers the Lakers over the Timberwolves and that his decision will come to a conclusion soon 👀
(Via: @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/d1bWv0HPuA
— LakersMuse (@LALMuse)
Whatever the case may be, Fischer expects Kuminga to make his choice soon, and while his reported preference is to don the Purple and Gold to team up with Luka Doncic, the Timberwolves remain in the mix for his services.
“That’s going to come to some type of conclusion here soon. I thought it could have happened last week, but I still have been told nothing to suggest that Kuminga’s situation is not coming down to the Lakers or the Timberwolves,” Fischer added.
Atlanta declined their team option worth $24.3 million for Kuminga, sending him to unrestricted free agency. Kuminga can effectively either choose to sign for the minimum with the Lakers (they already used the room exception on Collin Sexton) or sign the taxpayer mid-level exception with the Timberwolves.
LA could blow away Minnesota’s offer by signing and trading for Kuminga, although it’s not quite clear if the Hawks are going to be amenable to such an agreement considering that this could force them into the luxury tax threshold. Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season on 46/33/72 shooting splits.
