The Minnesota Timberwolves have had one of the most active offseasons in the league. By trading for LaMelo Ball, they addressed their fatal flaw, a lack of playmaking and secondary creation alongside Anthony Edwards. After giving up Naz Reid and Julius Randle, though, Minnesota's power forward position remained a glaring flaw.
Somehow, Tim Connelly pulled another rabbit out of his hat by signing Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year $12 million contract.
It’s a 2-year, $12M deal for the Wolves and Jonathan Kuminga, a source tells @TheAthletic
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) August 26, 2026
Kuminga, while controversial, fits a major need and gives the Timberwolves everything they need to compete for a title. As such, this signing caps off their perfect offseason.
Jonathan Kuminga is an ideal fit with the Timberwolves, despite his flaws
Look, I get it: Kuminga has certain flaws. He can be ball-dominant and is a bit inconsistent on defense. However, as noted, the Timberwolves sorely needed a power forward, and Kuminga was by far the highest-upside option on the open market.
Without this move, the Timberwolves would be entering this season with a glaring roster flaw, likely having to patch together minutes at the power forward position. That wouldn't have been ideal given their championship aspirations. Thankfully, now they have a complete roster with no major flaws.
While Kuminga has had a rocky career, so far he should understand that the Timberwolves are looking for a high-end complementary player, not a star. Sure, you could say the same thing about the Golden State Warriors, but they always needed more shot creation. The Timberwolves' fast-paced style of play and free-flowing offense is also a much better fit for Kuminga's playstyle.
Kuminga can thrive in an athletic play-finishing role much like Aaron Gordon. Make no mistake, though, as the Wolves' starting power forward, he'll still have a ton of importance to this team playing this role; just not so much as a creator.
Defensively, Kuminga has all the tools to lock up opposing fours, and there's some evidence to suggest he can excel in this role despite some of his inconsistencies. Notably, Kuminga ranked in the 85th percentile for matchup difficulty last season per B-Ball Index.
Kuminga's arrival also allows Jaden McDaniels to continue defending opposing guards, a role he's long excelled at. There's no denying that a natural forward stopper was a clear void for this team before signing Kuminga. So while there are some risks, Kuminga fills a major need for this team.
The Timberwolves completely revamped their roster this offseason. LaMelo perfectly fits what has long been their biggest need, and now with Kuminga, this team is well-rounded at every position. Not only is this one of the most talented starting teams in the league, but they fit seamlessly as a fast and athletic group. Likewise, they can beat you with multiple styles, whether that be rim pressure, shooting, ball movement, or defense.
Simply put, it's hard to find any clear flaws with this squad, and signing Kuminga is the final piece of the puzzle.
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