Kuminga's Modest Timberwolves Deal Highlights Warriors' Overpay Offer
Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Timberwolves. He previously turned down a three-year, $75.2 million offer from the Warriors. The new deal suggests the Warriors' offer was reckless and would have been difficult to trade.
Kuminga's new contract pays him roughly $6.1 million in its first season, the taxpayer mid-level exception rate, a steep drop from the $48.5 million two-year deal he ultimately signed with Golden State last offseason. That prior agreement included a team option, which the Hawks declined after acquiring him in a trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors. The sequence underscores how dramatically his market value collapsed within a single year.
The Warriors' front office, led by Mike Dunleavy Jr., reportedly offered Kuminga multiple structures last summer, including a two-year, $45 million proposal and the three-year, $75.2 million deal he rejected. Owner Joe Lacob opposed a one-year balloon contract out of fear of losing him for nothing. Dunleavy's draft record since taking over includes hits on Brandin Podziemski, Quinten Post, and Will Richard.
This story could reshape how NBA front offices approach extension negotiations with young players, as the gap between Kuminga's rejected offer and his eventual deal may make teams more cautious about overcommitting to unproven talent. It may also influence player agents to push for guaranteed money rather than betting on future market growth. For Warriors fans, the outcome may offer some reassurance that the franchise avoided a financially burdensome contract, though it could also raise questions about the front office's evaluation process.