Jonathan Kuminga is finally getting the starting opportunity he has spent much of his NBA career chasing. The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the 23-year-old forward, giving him a clear path into the starting lineup after losing Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
But the bigger question is not whether Kuminga can produce enough points. Minnesota already has Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball to carry much of the offense. His value will depend on whether he can improve the new lineup without needing the ball every time the offense stalls.
Jonathan Kuminga Gets Fresh Timberwolves Chance With Starting Role In ReachJonathan Kuminga’s Athleticism Gives Minnesota An Easy Starting PointThe easiest part of the fit is also the most obvious. Kuminga can run, jump, attack the rim and cover ground quickly, which gives Minnesota another athletic player to go along with its new backcourt.
That matters more with Ball running the offense. The Timberwolves can put the ball in Ball’s hands and let Kuminga sprint into space, cut behind a defender, or attack the rim before the defense gets organized.
Minnesota has spent this summer changing how it creates offense. Adding Ball put more responsibility on their perimeter playmaking, while the departures of Randle and Reid created a different need in the frontcourt.
Jonathan Kuminga Needs Better Decisions with Edwards and BallAtlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks over Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen (16) in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Photo Credit: Brett Davis, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
The harder part starts when the first action does not work.
Kuminga is at his best when he gets downhill and uses his strength and quickness to reach the basket. That makes him dangerous, but it can also tempt him to hold the ball and create his own shot when another player already has an advantage.
That is where Minnesota will need better decisions.
If Edwards draws two defenders, Kuminga should be ready to cut or attack the space left behind them. If Ball gets into the paint, Kuminga can become a target near the rim. If neither creates an opening, moving the ball quickly can keep the defense from loading up again.
The difference between those possessions will tell us more about his fit than his scoring average.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Shooting Will Shape The LineupThere is still a clear problem that coaching cannot completely hide. Kuminga has not established himself as a dependable three-point shooter, and that becomes more important when Rudy Gobert occupies the paint.
Defenders can choose when Kuminga stands outside. If they stay close, he has less room to attack. If they sag off, Minnesota needs him to make the next decision quickly.
That could mean taking the open shot. It could mean attacking the closeout. It could also mean cutting and forcing the defender to chase him.
The Timberwolves’ wing situation already depends on finding players who help their stars without demanding constant touches.
Defense Can Make The Offensive Tradeoff Worth ItThis is where Kuminga can give Minnesota something the roster needs.
His size and athleticism allow him to defend bigger forwards without completely sacrificing quickness. He can also switch onto smaller players in certain matchups, giving Chris Finch more options when building his defensive lineups.
The effort has to be consistent, though.
A player who struggles from three can still help a team if he defends, rebounds and runs the floor. A player who does none of those things when his shot is not falling becomes much harder to keep on the floor.
That is why Minnesota’s earlier search for a power forward was never just about filling a starting spot. The position needed to provide something useful around Edwards and Ball without weakening the defense.
The Real Test Will Come Without The BallKuminga does not need to abandon the scoring ability that made him a seventh overall pick. Minnesota needs that scoring ability to come within the flow of the lineup.
His contract gives him another reason to make that adjustment. The second year is a player option, so a strong season could put him back on the market with a chance to improve his value.
For Minnesota, the ideal outcome is not necessarily a bigger scoring line. It is a forward who makes the right play when the ball reaches him, creates pressure without forcing shots, and remains useful when someone else is leading the offense.
That would give the Timberwolves something they have been searching for all summer. It would also give Kuminga the clearest chance yet to show that his game can work at a high level without being built around him.
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Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
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