Jonathan Kuminga’s decision to bet on himself has potentially cost him tens of millions of dollars in guaranteed money, with the 23-year-old rejecting approximately $90 million in guaranteed offers from the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers over the past two offseasons before accepting a short-term deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kuminga’s contract drama began with the Golden State Warriors in 2025. The Warriors reportedly offered him a three-year, $75.2 million contract that had a team option for the third season, which left him with approximately $48.3 million in guaranteed money.
Advertisement
The Warriors also offered him a three-year, $54 million fully guaranteed contract, but Kuminga rejected both proposals as he wanted a larger contract and control over his future.
He eventually did sign a two-year, $46.8 million contract with the Warriors that included a $24.3 million team option. Kuminga did make $23.8 million guaranteed for the season, but his gamble did not unfold as he wanted it to.
After an offseason that was dominated by negotiations over his future, Kuminga eventually fell out of favor with the Warriors.
In 20 appearances for the Warriors last season, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range.
Advertisement
He was eventually traded to the Atlanta Hawks, where his numbers were very similar. Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range in 16 appearances.
The Hawks eventually decided to decline his $24.3 million team option, which sent him to unrestricted free agency.
And that is where the Lakers emerged as one of the strongest suitors.
The Lakers reportedly offered Kuminga more than $12 million a year over three years and recruited him because they wanted to make him their starting power forward. The Lakers were prepared to acquire him through a sign-and-trade, but the three-year commitment became a major issue.
Advertisement
Kuminga rejected approximately $36 million from the Lakers and instead accepted a two-year deal with the Timberwolves for $12 million, which has a player option that will eventually allow him to return to the market next season.
Combining the Warriors’ $54 million fully guaranteed contract from 2025, Kuminga has now rejected roughly $90 million in guaranteed money across two summers.
That doesn’t mean he simply lost $90 million. He did earn nearly $24 million last season after rejecting the Warriors’ offers, and his decisions have consistently been motivated by maintaining control over his future rather than maximizing immediate guarantees.
But still, the situation is very remarkable.
Advertisement
Kuminga is now hoping the Timberwolves can provide the right opportunity to help him rebuild his market. His goal is presumably to return to the level he showed in the 2023-24 season, when he averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 52.9% from the field.
The Timberwolves are offering him a starting opportunity on a contender and, mainly, the flexibility that he crucially wanted. Meanwhile, missing out on Kuminga leaves the Lakers searching for a starting wing after a long pursuit.
If Kuminga does have a breakout season and lands a big contract next summer, his gamble would have paid off. But until then, rejecting approximately $90 million in guaranteed money to wind up with a deal worth around $12 million represents one of the NBA’s biggest bets in modern free agency.
