Why Jonathan Kuminga Turned Down the Lakers to Join the Timberwolves

Why Anthony Edwards Skipped the Pitch on Scoring

While Kuminga and Edwards share a high-flying offensive style that thrives in isolation and late-clock situations, Edwards kept his focus entirely on the defensive end of the floor during their conversations. According to Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, speaking to The Athletic, Edwards delivered a blunt message about the team’s collective mindset. “One thing he did was focus his message on, we’re gonna really guard here,” Turner said. “Everybody looked at the offensive end. JK and I looked more at the defensive end.” This defensive alignment appealed directly to a player looking to reset his reputation after a turbulent tenure with the Golden State Warriors and a subsequent stint with the Atlanta Hawks.

Financial Shifts and Ownership Green Light

Minnesota’s pursuit of Kuminga began with only a $3.6 million veteran minimum salary to offer. However, after Turner urged management to free up more cap space to secure a reliable power forward, newly installed controlling owner Marc Stad stepped in. Stad instructed the president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, to utilize up to the $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception. That financial adjustment gave the Timberwolves a fighting chance, allowing Edwards to finalize the recruitment. Kuminga’s new deal also includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, offering him flexibility if he looks to re-enter the market.

Rebuilding Reputation After Golden State and Atlanta

Kuminga spent his first four-and-a-half seasons with the Warriors, where his relationship with head coach Steve Kerr grew strained before a February trade to Atlanta. Critics often labeled him a single-minded scorer who struggled to fit into a system alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Interestingly, Edwards spent time playing under Kerr for Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics, giving him a unique perspective on Kuminga’s prior struggles. “Ant can relate to JK in a way very few, if any, in the world can,” Turner noted to The Athletic, adding that Edwards told him, “I know what you can do.” After the Hawks declined to exercise Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season, Minnesota’s concerted push provided a welcome change of pace.

A Unified Front From Minnesota’s Front Office and Roster

The recruitment effort extended far beyond Edwards. Kuminga traveled to Miami for dinner with Tim Connelly, heard from owner Alex Rodriguez about top-level organizational backing, and held extensive talks with head coach Chris Finch regarding accountability. New backcourt addition LaMelo Ball and wing Jaden McDaniels also reached out to lobby for his arrival. The collective pitch highlighted Kuminga’s standout performance against Minnesota in the 2025 playoffs—where he averaged 20.8 points on 54 percent shooting—and emphasized how badly the team needed his size and athleticism following offseason departures.