Minnesota Sports Forum

I’m assuming all the votes are in by now and we see a tie between Kuminga and Love as the top free-agent PF for the Wolves. Moving beyond our preferences, here’s a breakdown on what plausibility:

1. Kevin Love: Reports are widespread that Love wants to sign with the Sixers and is just waiting for them to clear roster space. He’s very tight with LeBron and LeBron always gets what he wants. So I don’t consider Love a plausible option for the Wolves

2. Prosper: He’d be my top pick but he’s not a free agent so I made a mistake listing him among the options. And trading for him isn’t plausible either because it’s clear the Grizzlies intend to keep him.

3. Kuminga: I’d consider him an unlikely but still plausible target. The other two teams (Lakers and Cavs) reportedly having strong interest in Kuminga already have considerable depth at PF, with current players who would likely start ahead of him in their respective rotations. The Lakers have Mamu, Looney, LaRavia and Vanderbilt at the PF position. They might trade one of those guys in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, but they’re not going to trade Mamu or Looney and Mamu would certainly be ahead of Kuminga in the Lakers’ rotation. The Cavs have Evan Mobley as their starting PF and they’re not going to trade Mobley in any sort of sign-and-trade for Kuminga. In contrast, Kuminga would be the presumptive starter at the PF position for the Wolves. Therefore, if Kuminga is interesting in playing time, relevancy and putting his career back on track, signing with the Wolves should be the obvious choice for him. But it seems clear that Kuminga has his sights set on a contract approaching $20 million a year. If he’s willing to settle for less, I don’t see him settling for less than around $15M.

All of that mans the only way the Wolves, Lakers or Cavs could sign him would be probably through a sign-and-trade deal. The Lakers and Cavs might be able to offer the Hawks a better deal than the Wolves could offer, but Kuminga would have to agree and I don’t see why he would prefer the Lakers or Cavs over the Wolves for the same money. There’s an easy deal for the Wolves if the Hawks are interested - Green straight up for Kuminga. I would think that $14.6M and the chance to start on a championship contender would be enough for Kuminga. I think Atlanta would need to clear a roster spot, but that’s probably doable. I suspect the deal is probably there for the taking if the Hawks have any interest in adding Josh Green who I think would be a nice fit for a Hawks team looking to compete in the East.

If I’m right, then the key question is whether swapping Green for Kuminga would make sense for the Wolves. I’m assuming Kuminga would expect a multi-year contract with a player option in the 2nd or 3rd year so he’s positioned to take advantage of free agency if he performs well. Is that something the Wolves should consider? Is Kuminga really a good fit for the Wolves? Is he worth the risk of a multi-year deal averaging over $15M per year? I’m not sure. I’d lean against it. I don’t think he’s a particularly good fit for us because he’s a scorer who likes to shoot and expects to be a relatively high-usage guy. He’s not a particularly good rebounder and has yet to prove that he’s any more of a floor stretcher than Randle. I also question whether he’d be good for team chemistry. I also think we’re going to really like Josh Green with his intensity, defense, team-focus, and three-point shooting. His expiring contract also has value either as a trade-chip at the deadline or for salary relief next summer. So I probably wouldn’t do the deal if it’s available. What say all of you?

4. Olynyk and the others: I think Olynyk and the others are all very plausible. I guessing the Wolves will end up signing Olynyk at the vet minimum if they don’t make some sort of trade for a starting PF.

If I had to make a prediction, I’d predict the Wolves end up trading for PJ Washington or Obi Toppin. In either case, the Wolves would have to give up Green and at least one other player just to satisfy CBA requirements. To get PJ, the Wolves would have to give up both Green and Donte and so far it looks like it’s highly unlikely the Wolves are willing to trade Donte. To get Obi, we’d have to give up Green and probably TSJ. I wouldn’t do that deal but the Wolves might.

Unfortunately, Olynyk is very likely to re-sign with the Spurs…

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2026 12:16 pm Unfortunately, Olynyk is very likely to re-sign with the Spurs…

That’s too bad. He’d be a decent addition to our roster at the vet minimum.

My guess is that TC isn’t going to sign a vet minimum player to strengthen the team’s PF position unless he can somehow land Kuminga at that price. The list of free agent PFs he has reportedly been pursuing tells us the level of player he has in mind - Rui Hachimora, LeBron James, and now Kuminga. They are all starting-caliber or potential starting-caliber PFs.

Two things seem clear. First, the Wolves front office wants to add a PF to the roster. Second, they are not going to settle for anything less than a starting-caliber PF. That’s why I expect the wolves to trade for a PF before the season starts if they can’t sign Kuminga to a vet minimum deal. It might be a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. Otherwise, I’m expecting a trade for PJ Washington or Obi Toppin.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2026 12:16 pm Unfortunately, Olynyk is very likely to re-sign with the Spurs…

I think the Spurs already have 15 roster spots filled, although one is an exhibit 10 so they can just let him go. Not every team keeps 15 roster spots going into the season.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2026 1:26 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2026 12:16 pm Unfortunately, Olynyk is very likely to re-sign with the Spurs…

That’s too bad. He’d be a decent addition to our roster at the vet minimum.

My guess is that TC isn’t going to sign a vet minimum player to strengthen the team’s PF position unless he can somehow land Kuminga at that price. The list of free agent PFs he has reportedly been pursuing tells us the level of player he has in mind - Rui Hachimora, LeBron James, and now Kuminga. They are all starting-caliber or potential starting-caliber PFs.

Two things seem clear. First, the Wolves front office wants to add a PF to the roster. Second, they are not going to settle for anything less than a starting-caliber PF. That’s why I expect the wolves to trade for a PF before the season starts if they can’t sign Kuminga to a vet minimum deal. It might be a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. Otherwise, I’m expecting a trade for PJ Washington or Obi Toppin.

Lip we have also heard info from someone in the Wolves org that said that Lyles might end up starting so there is likely a path where that could be the case. The Wolves are currently doing their jobs trying to get the best player possible at that spot. There is a chance they have someone in mind that we haven't really considered that they know will be available one way or another. Like someone mention in an article I read recently the off-season kinda took a 2 week time off for Lebron to decide where he was going. Lets remember the free agency negotiation period started June 30th. That's a month and a half ago and then there was the Lebron situation to work out. That's not a short time but it's not a long one either. There are players deciding whether to try and make a roster or go play in Europe because they have at least one offer there or another overseas league.

There are various players available in FA and some of them will sign with teams and some of them will be guaranteed roster spots. That might mean someone else gets bumped off. Jabari Walker with the sixers is a younger guy that's played a pretty decent chunk of NBA minutes that might at least be decent depth. He was pick 57 by the Blazers in 2022 so I mean maybe TKR can give the Wolves some decent minutes here and there after all? Wotford was undrafted I think and played right away. Camara was another late rogue pick that played right away and heck I would feel kinda good if he was the Wolves starter at the right price. Obviously we are hoping to eventually find a legit guy or maybe some sort of platoon of players (McDaniels is very likely gonna be part of the PF group at some point in the future). I also think it's fair to say it's gonna be easier to find that player or group of players at PF than a guard like Ball. Currently that group (in terms of potemtial) is pretty underwhelming. It's basically McDaniels (could be really good someday) and 2 guys that are center sizes in Beringer and Rocco. And I guess TKR (hasn't signed a contract) and Freeman who seems like a guy with limited upside. Leonard Miller or even Minott look kinda exciting compared to some of those guys. Between now and when guys basically sign for training camp is when sometimes you sign a guy that ends up being worthwhile like Garza was.

I also think it's interesting that it doesn't seem they in on a guy like Derozen. I'm not saying they should be but he can clearly still play. I don't see much of any new information that we have in the last couple weeks. It's time to sit back and see what happens.