Kuminga's Timberwolves Contract Exposes Warriors' Reckless Move
Jonathan Kuminga has signed a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Timberwolves after failing to secure a long-term deal with the Golden State Warriors. The author argues that the Warriors' previous offer of $75.2 million was reckless and that the market has since corrected Kuminga's perceived value.
Why it matters
It highlights the volatility of NBA contract negotiations and the financial risks teams take when betting on young players' potential.
Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Timberwolves on Wednesday, and of course Warriors fans had a wide range of opinions about it.
One was that Kuminga's agent did a terrible job reading the market. Having to settle for the taxpayer mid-level exception ($6.1 million in the first season) is disappointing for a player who turned down a three-year, $75.2 million contract from the Warriors a year ago.
Speaking of which, that offer is the impetus for my biggest takeaway from this new contract.
The Warriors had no business giving him that $75.2 million offer, and had he accepted it, the Dubs would be much worse off.
ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported on the drawn-out negotiations between Kuminga and the Warriors last offseason.
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