As the Minnesota Timberwolves look to round out their roster and fill their power forward need, one player stands out as the highest-upside addition: Jonathan Kuminga.
Yes, the Wolves face some hurdles to landing him due to their lack of cap space, barring a sign-and-trade or another roster move; they only have access to a veteran's minimum contract. Plus, there are some concerns about Kuminga's fit, largely given his shot selection and ball-dominance. Still, Peyton Watson signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers clearly boosts the Wolves' chances of signing Kuminga, and if he buys into a complementary role, he'd be an ideal fit.
Steve Kerr always challenged Kuminga to be more like Shawn Marion and Aaron Gordon; this might not have resonated at the time, but now Kuminga needs to see that his former coach was right. If Kuminga is on a short-term prove-it deal with the Wolves, though, he'd have no chance but to buy into his role.
Of course, Gordon has been an essential part of the Denver Nuggets' success since 2021. He provides elite play-finishing, especially around the basket (though he's recently grown as a shooter), cutting, screening, connective playmaking, and stout defense.
Still, earlier in his career Gordon was thrust into a de facto No. 1 option role, and the all-around parts of his game weren't on full display until being traded to Denver. Gordon was always meant to be a high-end complementary player, not a star, and this version of him was actualized with the Nuggets.
Granted, the Kuminga situation is a bit different because of his desire to be a star. Regardless, if he buys into a Gordon-like role, he could thrive (and make a lot of money). Fortunately, the Timberwolves would be a great team for him to shift to a Gordon role on.
Jonathan Kuminga needs to be open to an Aaron Gordon role
Look, if you're skeptical of Kuminga swallowing his pride, I get it. His tenure with the Golden State Warriors was rocky, and the Atlanta Hawks quickly got out of the Kuminga business.
Other factors need to be considered, though. The Warriors' system is notoriously complex, and it doesn't fit Kuminga's strengths. Kerr yanking his minutes around also made it tricky to establish rhythm.
Chris Finch's free-flowing style of offense would fit him much better, and he'd likely be walking into the Timberwolves' starting power forward job. He's also still young, turning 24 in October, so there's plenty of time to grow, and with the Hawks, he showed signs of buying into a complementary role.
On a true prove-it deal, Kuminga would surely realize his best chance of earning a more lucrative contract down the road is by buying into a complementary role. And being unsigned in August should be a wake-up call for Kuminga.
Another factor that must be considered: the Timberwolves have a clear hierarchy with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels as their top three scorers. Say what you will about Kuminga's time with the Warriors, but they often needed more creation alongside Stephen Curry. Minnesota's needs are simply different, and if he signs there, Kuminga would have to understand that.
It might not sound as fun as being a 20-point-per-game scorer, but the reality is that accepting a Gordon-like role is Kuminga's ticket to a long NBA career, and the Timberwolves are the perfect spot to maximize this version of him.
Frankly, if Kuminga doesn't show that he's open to a role like this, his path to long-term NBA success is slim, and at this point in his career, he should realize that.
Why Kuminga could excel in an Gordon role
While Kuminga has routinely shown an affinity for creating his own shots and taking ill-advised shots, he'd thrive as a play-finisher. He is an athletic beast who could complement LaMelo as a lob threat, in transition, and generally as a play-finisher. If Kuminga can pair this with more cutting and off-ball movement, then he could easily fulfill this Aaron Gordon prophecy.
That's not to say Kuminga would never create for himself; it just wouldn't be his main responsibility, and nor should it be.
Defense is a similar story for Kuminga. He has all the physical tools to be a high-end defender and has flashed his upside, especially as an on-ball stopper. Notably, last season, he ranked in the 85th percentile for matchup difficulty and the 86th percentile for perimeter isolation defense per Basketball Index.
Yet he's struggled with consistency and off-ball engagement on that end of the floor. The Timberwolves' defensive culture could change that.
Plus, there are clear advantages to playing alongside Rudy Gobert and McDaniels. Kuminga can slide in perfectly with the Wolves' established talent, taking on physical forwards, while improving his off-ball activity.
This combination of sturdy on-ball defense and disruptive off-ball defense is exactly what we've been accustomed to seeing from Gordon.
Overall, there's no reason why Kuminga can't flourish in a Gordon-like role, and the Timberwolves can maximize his potential as a high-end complementary player.
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