For the second straight year, Jonathan Kuminga's free agency has dragged into the offseason, but this time he's an unrestricted free agent, so he has control over where he will land. As NBA insider Michael Scotto said on the Wilder Wolves podcast earlier this month, the forward is looking for what he never got with the Golden State Warriors — consistent playing time.
"I think for Jonathan Kuminga, the main thing is getting consistent playing time and finally having an opportunity, if he can, to show and realize the potential he showed when he was with Golden State. He's yet to get that opportunity in full, and Minnesota would provide him the best opportunity for that. With the Lakers, there's also the possibility that he would be a starting forward. I think it would be more concrete with Minnesota, though."
As Scotto mentioned, Kuminga could be a starting forward for the Lakers or Timberwolves, both of which would be great opportunities for him, specifically the former (unfortunately). If there is a place for him to prove that he can be the All-Star-caliber player he believes he can be, it feels like it's in Los Angeles.
Kuminga didn't get to be that player in Golden State, and the Warriors shoulder a lot of blame for that, but he's partly responsible, too.
Jonathan Kuminga is still weighing his options
It's not just Los Angeles or Minnesota, as Cleveland is in the mix, too. The Cavaliers are also interested in Peyton Watson, but his situation as a restricted free agent is more of a toss-up, making Kuminga more attainable. Milwaukee is also eyeing Kuminga (and Watson), but the Bucks may not present him the best opportunity to truly prove his worth, as they're in a sort of rebuilding phase.
Kuminga has taken his time making his next steps official. LeBron James taking a couple of weeks to decide put the market on hold, and even now, with him going to the Sixers, how things go for Watson could affect Kuminga (or vice versa).
What's clear is that Kuminga isn't taking this decision lightly, and part of that could be because of how things went down with him and Golden State, along with the money. He seems to understand what the next step in his journey could mean for the rest of his career.
Perhaps that will lead him to the Lakers, since they've been pursuing him all along and may have the best pitch among the interested teams, with the Timberwolves right behind them. Or, if you're like Scotto, you think a little differently.
If you're the Warriors, you don't want to see Kuminga back in the West, preferably out East with a team like the Cavaliers or Bucks. That way, if consistent playing time does yield the result Kuminga thinks it will, Golden State won't be as haunted by its past.
Add us as a preferred source on Google