It's fair to have some concerns about Jonathan Kuminga's fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But there's no denying that he was the highest-upside power forward option on the open market. Considering his upside, the Wolves' need for a forward, and that he is on a team-friendly contract, it's easy to defend this move from Minnesota's perspective.
On Friday, the Sacramento Kings signed Ben Simmons. Subsequently, ESPN's Marc Spears noted that the Timberwolves expressed interest in signing Simmons to a training camp deal. Maybe he would still have preferred the certainty of a guaranteed contract with Sacramento.
Regardless, had they struck out on Kuminga, it's fair to expect that the Timberwolves' attention would've shifted toward Simmons. And even if the Wolves didn't sign Simmons, it seems as though the most likely pivot would've been a training camp battle between multiple veteran or unproven forwards. The Wolves' lack of draft capital and trade candidates add to this possibility.
Had Simmons hypothetically made the team, his non-existent shooting would've made him unplayable, even if he's still a good defender. The bigger picture is that Kuminga gives the Wolves a clear solution to their PF problem, and if they hadn't signed him, they'd be entering the season with a glaring issue.
The Timberwolves' power forward options without Kuminga were bleak
Look at some of the remaining free agent options at the power forward position. Kevin Love, Kelly Olynyk, Jeff Green, Anthony Gill, Leaky Black, and Kendall Brown are some "notable" free agent power forwards. This list is a combination of veterans and unproven young players.
Had they not signed Kuminga, the Wolves might have brought players like this in for a training camp competition. Minnesota's reported interest in Simmons underscores this possibility.
Love's contract would have been guaranteed given his ties to the franchise, and signing him remains a possibility. In any event, without Kuminga, the Timberwolves would likely have rounded out their roster with someone who isn't a rotation-level player. With Jaden McDaniels and Trey Lyles being Minnesota's lone forwards before Kuminga, this would have been a clear issue. ,
Entering the year with such a glaring flaw at the power forward position wouldn't have been ideal for a Wolves team that's vying for a title. It's worth wondering how Kuminga's playstyle will mesh alongside the Wolves' established players. While Kuminga could be an impactful play-finisher and defender, his isolation-heavy shot diet is a fair concern.
Nevertheless, banking on Kuminga becoming an ideal fit and superb complementary forward is infinitely more ideal than banking on a makeshift power forward or a hidden gem to emerge. Likewise, Kuminga's talent is undeniable, and he boosts the Timberwolves' championship upside. Something that wasn't available from anyone else on the market.
So while Kuminga might not be perfect, signing him was clearly the right call, given the other options, and Spears' report that the Timberwolves were interested in Simmons highlights this.
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