It's been a slow, weird offseason for Kuminga. The Warriors extended him a qualifying offer to keep him as a restricted free agent, and instead of a quick resolution, the situation has stretched deep into August with barely any real market noise. Now that's changing fast.
Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly down to the Lakers or Timberwolves, per @JakeLFischer The Decision 🍿 (h/t @RealGM )
Per Jake Fischer, Kuminga's decision has narrowed to the Lakers and Timberwolves, and word is he's leaning toward Los Angeles. Fischer's reporting frames the Lakers as having the inside track largely because they've had the most room to actually negotiate with him, while the Wolves remain in it but haven't closed the gap.
The Lakers angle makes sense on paper. A 22-year-old, high-upside forward slotting in next to Luka Doncic gives L.A. exactly the kind of long-term athletic complement it's been missing since the Anthony Davis era shifted. Kuminga's flashes with Golden State — the explosiveness, the defensive versatility, the moments where he looked like a future All-Star — are the reason two contenders are still fighting over him this late in the summer.
The Timberwolves, fresh off deep playoff runs the last couple seasons, offer a different pitch: a more finished roster and a clearer path to winning right away, even if the spotlight and opportunity might be smaller than what L.A. is dangling. That tension — max opportunity versus max stability — has been the whole holdup.
Whatever happens, this marks the end of an era in the Bay. Kuminga was a first-round Warriors pick who never quite settled into a defined role next to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the core, and Golden State's inability to find him a permanent fit is exactly why this is playing out as a sign-and-trade rather than a straightforward re-signing. Fischer's reporting suggests a resolution is close, with no indication any other team has re-entered the mix.
Barring a late twist, Kuminga picks a jersey before training camp opens, and either the Lakers add a genuine wing weapon or the Timberwolves land a talented reclamation piece to pair with their existing core. Either way, the Warriors' Kuminga chapter is about to close.