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Beyond winning, Jonathan Kuminga is simply excited to start a new chapter with the Minnesota Timberwolves because of LaMelo Ball. The new Wolves forward has nothing but positive words to say about Ball, even claiming that the star guard's passing ability is superior to any floor general he played with in his young career. "I think his ability of passing the ball," Kuminga said on what excites him the most about playing with Ball during his Minnesota introductory press conference. "I was watching him work out yesterday. I was watching him doing certain things, and just the way he passed the ball, it's incredible. "I mean, I play with so many point guards in my career, but I never played with somebody that could pass as good as LaMelo. So, I think I'm looking forward to it, and I'm excited."
Your lead assistant coach Micah Nori is gone (to be a head coach in Portland). Finch: Micah of course; the staff changes have happened as well. But the tentpoles (Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels) are still here. And we like that. But I think it will be good to take those guys back to the beginning, too. And they’ve got to be part of the journey and impart more knowledge, understanding and expectation. And hopefully that lifts the accountability piece for everybody. Just getting LaMelo to understand how we do things and the urgency with which that needs to happen. I’m kind of excited about that dynamic and watching it play out. I’m excited about kind of putting myself forward again. I’ve spent the last few years trying to lean into the development of coaches giving everybody a voice, kind of growing together, giving everyone a role.
“Ant, from what I am told, is very pleased by the Wolves’ offseason,” Windhorst said. “Going to get LaMelo (Ball), making this deal happen for (Jonathan) Kuminga,”
LaVar Ball: “LaMelo Ball is the most notable player on the NBA. And you know this is your son, you just talking. Well, I'm telling y'all, with this social media, how could he not be? He been in 18 different countries and you got to watch my son grow up on Facebook. So who don't know him?"
Brian Windhorst on Anthony Edwards: He's excited about the team now. When he needs to be excited is a year from now when he signs the extension. And listen, if the extension was now, maybe he would sign it. Maybe he would be excited about this enough to sign it, and maybe he thinks LaMelo is going to be a perfect fit and maybe he will be a perfect fit. I’m not trying to be a jerk. I'm just trying to be honest. The time where Ant has to feel really good about the Wolves is a year from now.
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Minnesota’s payroll places it as the sixth highest in the NBA. The Timberwolves will pay LaMelo Ball $40 million, Anthony Edwards $48.9 million and Rudy Gobert $36.5 million. Jaden McDaniels rounds out the group at $26 million, which could make Kuminga the odd man out. “A $6.5 million salary in the NBA is a bench role salary. Your salary determines ultimately how a team treats you,” Green said.
The Wolves have been looking for a prototypical power forward ever since trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid during a busy offseason that also brought LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. Multiple team sources, speaking under condition of anonymity to discuss the team’s private recruiting efforts, outlined the work done over the summer that helped the Timberwolves beat out other suitors for Kuminga’s services. Tim Connelly, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, had extended conversations with Kuminga and agent Aaron Turner throughout the summer, including flying to Miami for a face-to-face meeting with Kuminga, sources said.
Michael Scotto: Jonathan Kuminga chose the Timberwolves because he felt it was the best basketball fit and gives him a chance to start at power forward for a contender. Wolves stars Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, executive Tim Connelly, and owner Alex Rodriguez all actively recruited Kuminga.
Shams Charania: BREAKING: Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. Kuminga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender.
Darren Wolfson: "Next to the arena, the other elephant in the room is Tim Connelly's future, considering his relationship with Alex Rodriguez. I think Tim is here. I don't know where Tim is going. I think he wants to see this thing through. You make the big deal for LaMelo Ball, give this a couple years, see what this roster looks like. So I guess I will be surprised, just because of Tim's involvement, Tim increasing his ownership stake slightly, the fact that Tim is here a ton, has the house here. I think Tim ends up re-upping."
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Now, Minnesota is retooling. The Timberwolves pulled off a blockbuster trade Ball last month, pairing him with Edwards to form a new-look backcourt. For Anthony Edwards, the move could finally give Minnesota enough firepower to get past the teams that have stood in its way. "Against those two teams, I think we're going to beat them," Edwards told ESPN about the Timberwolves' chances against the Thunder and Spurs during his visit to Manila.
With Ball and several new pieces joining the fold, the Timberwolves star knows chemistry must come before any championship talk. "It would mean a lot [to win a championship]... But right now, I don't think we're thinking about winning the championship," Edwards said. "It's step by step. We got LaMelo, a new player, and a bunch of new pieces." "So, we are just trying to build it together and I think we're trying to gel it all together."
KΞRL_: Tyrese Haliburton says getting passed on by the Pistons felt the most personal Taylor Rooks: “Of the teams that passed on you, was there one that felt the most personal?” Tyrese Haliburton: “For sure, Detroit. For sure, Detroit.” “Because I mean, there were a lot of teams I wanted to go to. I liked Golden State a lot,that was like a dream. But I knew they probably wouldn't pick me at two.” “The Bulls, I thought, would have been cool. The Knicks. The Pistons. But with the Pistons, I knew they needed a point guard.” “In that moment, I already felt like I was the best point guard in the draft. LaMelo was touted as the number one guy, so he got drafted. And now I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s got to be me.’” “On ESPN, the top available were Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball. After that, I’m the number one best available.” “I told the Hawks and Cavs, ‘Please God, don’t draft me,’ because they already had Trae and Darius.” “So with the Pistons, I’m like, ‘You need a point guard, it’s got to be me.’ Then I look at my agent behind the camera and he gives me the look. Then it flashes up Killian Hayes, and I’m like, ‘What?!’” “In that moment, I was just angry. Like, what do you mean they need a point guard and they’re not picking me?”
Another juicy reunion will take place Jan. 29 when the Charlotte Hornets play at Minnesota and see their old point guard, LaMelo Ball. The Hornets stunned many around the league when they traded their star point guard after enjoying the second-best turnaround in the league last season and becoming one of the hottest teams in the league after Jan. 1, missing the playoffs by one game when they lost to Orlando in the play-in. Ball, one of the most popular fan favorites in Hornets franchise history, will return to play at Charlotte on Feb. 15.
