60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 7:33 pm
Assuming we do the waive and stretch, we should have enough space for Kuminga and two more vet minimum players, with at least one more being required. Plenty of room for my 4/5 guy, such as Love or Olynyk!
Enough money to re-sign Donte next summer, or is that a problem for next year?
How much is he signing for? As-in what will his aav be?
Ayo's aav is 22.4
Donte is basically the same level of player as Ayo. But he was also just injured, so maybe we can get him for a shade less. I gotta think 18-20 aav.
I'm sure he'll be fine on offense, although playing as a 4 would have played up more of his strengths offensively. What I was excited for was to see his potential unlocked defensively.
Perhaps, delusionally, I was hopeful that between Ayo, Green, Clark, and who knows even Ant Jaden wouldn't have to defend at the POA so much. I believe this is how you get to mythical version of Jaden that is gassed up so much by the organization.
Since Green is likely moving out, and Kuminga/Lyles getting most of the PF minutes- Jaden is gonna spend another season getting worn out chasing ball handlers I just don't like it
On paper the roster has better balance, but I just don't like what Kuminga offers
I agree, Aussie with one caveat. Kuminga’s track record tells us he doesn’t offer defense or rebounding. But his talent tells a different tale. He’s a tremendous athlete - explosive off the floor and fast. Unlike Randle, Kuminga has the quickness and athleticism to be a very good defender. The question is whether he’ll commit to that end of the floor. If he’s smart (which I question), he’ll see that becoming a lock-down defender and active rebounder who hustles on a team contending for a title is his path to rebuilding his brand and eventually getting the payday he seems to have thought he was entitled to.
That caveat is exactly why I don't like him for this team.
You're right, if he grows up, the potential is there. Maybe it's worth the gamble but I'm just not feeling it right now. It's just hard to believe that a guy who has fought two coaching teams on the idea that he is the shit, is suddenly going up realize that his best path in the NBA is to become an elite role player.
Then again, Finch does have a track record with vets in similar situations, albeit NAW and Bones were still in pretty different situations
Funny thing is if he decided he wanted to a really good defender but only average 12 ppg in 25-30 mpg, that could net him the 20 aav he is looking for. A good all around two way player is coveted by the entire league. Thus bidding wars begin.
Your choice Kuminga. Or is basketball all to you scoring points? To me, anyone who doesn't love playing defense, also does not actually like the game of basketball. They are posers and covert something else, masquerading as one.
Mnwild1128 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:25 pm
Wolves were already hard capped at the 1st apron thus operating under 2nd apron rules due to that. Only difference with this move is our salary is actually over and into the 2nd apron tier so if not by end of the league calender year our salary is not lowered back into the 1st apron, our 2034 1st will be frozen. And the amount of luxury tax will be that much more amplified.
This is completely false! The Wolves earlier transactions this offseason "hard-capped" the Wolves at the 2nd apron. When a team is hard-capped at an apron, they cannot submit any transaction that places them above that apron. Period.
Mnwild1128 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:25 pm
Wolves were already hard capped at the 1st apron thus operating under 2nd apron rules due to that. Only difference with this move is our salary is actually over and into the 2nd apron tier so if not by end of the league calender year our salary is not lowered back into the 1st apron, our 2034 1st will be frozen. And the amount of luxury tax will be that much more amplified.
This is completely false! The Wolves earlier transactions this offseason "hard-capped" the Wolves at the 2nd apron. When a team is hard-capped at an apron, they cannot submit any transaction that places them above that apron. Period.
Mnwild1128 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:25 pm
Wolves were already hard capped at the 1st apron thus operating under 2nd apron rules due to that. Only difference with this move is our salary is actually over and into the 2nd apron tier so if not by end of the league calender year our salary is not lowered back into the 1st apron, our 2034 1st will be frozen. And the amount of luxury tax will be that much more amplified.
This is completely false! The Wolves earlier transactions this offseason "hard-capped" the Wolves at the 2nd apron. When a team is hard-capped at an apron, they cannot submit any transaction that places them above that apron. Period.
Then we did not sign Jonathan Kuminga.
He agreed to terms. He has not been officially signed yet until the wolves make a roster move
I agree, Aussie with one caveat. Kuminga’s track record tells us he doesn’t offer defense or rebounding. But his talent tells a different tale. He’s a tremendous athlete - explosive off the floor and fast. Unlike Randle, Kuminga has the quickness and athleticism to be a very good defender. The question is whether he’ll commit to that end of the floor. If he’s smart (which I question), he’ll see that becoming a lock-down defender and active rebounder who hustles on a team contending for a title is his path to rebuilding his brand and eventually getting the payday he seems to have thought he was entitled to.
That caveat is exactly why I don't like him for this team.
You're right, if he grows up, the potential is there. Maybe it's worth the gamble but I'm just not feeling it right now. It's just hard to believe that a guy who has fought two coaching teams on the idea that he is the shit, is suddenly going up realize that his best path in the NBA is to become an elite role player.
Then again, Finch does have a track record with vets in similar situations, albeit NAW and Bones were still in pretty different situations
Our thinking on this is pretty aligned, Aussie. But the optimist in me says that Kuminga can’t possibly be so dumb or arrogant that he doesn’t realize he needs to change to have the success he obviously wants. Moreover, he has to know he’s not going to be a featured offensive player on a Wolves team with Ball, Ant, Jaden and Ayo. He can’t possible be too dumb to know what that means for his role on the team. So the fact that he signed with us rather than the Lakers (or anyone else for that matter) suggests that he’s had an epiphany of sorts.
Lip and Aussi: I don't know if you watched the Hawks much late in the season (the Hawks and the Hornets were my two favorite teams in April and March, other than the Wolves), but Kuminga was a very good defender at the end of the season. His ability to switch and guard 1 thru 4 with his length and athleticism was a big factor in their winning 18 out of 20 at one point. He came into the draft with a reputation of having elite defensive potential, but he was inconsistent until last season. But last season, the Hawks gave up 9.7 fewer points per 100 when he was on the court...that's really impressive, and matched what I saw when I watched him! If we can get that kind of defense from him next season, we will have arguable the best defensive front court in the Association.
I'm more concerned about how he will fit in on offense. He's always been a terror against the Wolves, but his inconsistency has really frustrated his coaches and held him back. He needs to know that he is a 4th option on offense at best. If he can settle into that role, this is going to be a very good signing.
I just love how one person says we can only (realistically) offer the minimum and everyone here just accepts that narrative and runs with it. No, this was always the likely outcome. This really isn’t a bad deal for Kuminga… it’s a one year deal in reality. It’s really a good deal both ways, so I’m happy with it.
The sky was never falling for us a PF, but such is life on a message board in the offseason
D-Loser25 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:39 pm
I just love how one person says we can only (realistically) offer the minimum and everyone here just accepts that narrative and runs with it. No, this was always the likely outcome. This really isn’t a bad deal for Kuminga… it’s a one year deal in reality. It’s really a good deal both ways, so I’m happy with it.
The sky was never falling for us a PF, but such is life on a message board in the offseason
I'll wait to give my full take on this signing till everything plays out but here is where I'm at tonight.
1. I have reservations about Kuminga. I also think he makes a ton of sense to take a gamble on adding him.
2. There are various reasons but he did pick the Wolves and he was picking between the Lakers and Wolves because they are playoff teams and also had a big role for him. I've seen guys in Kuminga's position just take the biggest role and the biggest money regardless. I mean he could have taken a vet min deal and I would have been like ok that says even more but I can't blame the guy for wanting a little more.
3. The fact that the Wolves really wanted him says something. If he was a total whackadoo I don't think they even go after him very hard. It's also encouraging that he decided this was the spot.
4. As for his fit having another bigger forward like him is an intriguing fit next to Jaden. They could switch off guarding different players. Kuminga has that ability the question is whether or not he will do it.
5. I'm interested to see what all the Wolves do financial and building out the roster because of this signing. It's a bit of a shame to lose Green but adding Kuminga and either someone via trade or a FA could be pretty good value too.
Edit:
6. With adding Kuminga Connelly continues the off-season of getting younger and adding talent. Kinda impressive in a way.
