Minnesota Sports Forum

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 10:04 pm 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.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:09 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:20 pm I will say, Kuminga does things Randle could only dream of...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBg2u7YOPvo

I couldn't stop watching that. That is one strong man. I also like that he can get his own shot, can't have too many of those guys.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 6:37 pm As you all know from prior posts, I’m skeptical about Kuminga. He’s a very talented young player who has consistently demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to defend, rebound and do the little things that help teams win. Instead, he’s focused almost entirely on scoring and has played as if he’s a high-usage offensive star. Steve Kerr became so fed up with Kuminga’s refusal to play the role he needed to play that he benched him before trading him to Atlanta. Kuminga’s pursuit of contracts well above his market value aligns with the attitude - unrealistic, inflated sense of himself - he’s displayed on th4e court. To be essentially cast aside by two teams already in his relatively brief career in spite of his obvious talent is telling and if it’s not a red flag it’s certain a very dark yellow flag.

All that said, I would think that rejection by two teams and his dismal free agency experience this off-season must have humbled him and changed his perspective. I take some comfort in the fact that he chose the Wolves over the Lakers knowing that he’ll likely have a far less prominent offensive role on the Wolves than he would on the Lakers based on each team’s roster. He essentially chose the team where he’ll have a less prominent offensive role but a better chance of winning a championship. That choice gives me hope that Kuminga has finally grown up and that he’ll be a different player who channels his considerable talent into defending, rebounding and making winning plays.

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 10:34 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 6:37 pm As you all know from prior posts, I’m skeptical about Kuminga. He’s a very talented young player who has consistently demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to defend, rebound and do the little things that help teams win. Instead, he’s focused almost entirely on scoring and has played as if he’s a high-usage offensive star. Steve Kerr became so fed up with Kuminga’s refusal to play the role he needed to play that he benched him before trading him to Atlanta. Kuminga’s pursuit of contracts well above his market value aligns with the attitude - unrealistic, inflated sense of himself - he’s displayed on th4e court. To be essentially cast aside by two teams already in his relatively brief career in spite of his obvious talent is telling and if it’s not a red flag it’s certain a very dark yellow flag.

All that said, I would think that rejection by two teams and his dismal free agency experience this off-season must have humbled him and changed his perspective. I take some comfort in the fact that he chose the Wolves over the Lakers knowing that he’ll likely have a far less prominent offensive role on the Wolves than he would on the Lakers based on each team’s roster. He essentially chose the team where he’ll have a less prominent offensive role but a better chance of winning a championship. That choice gives me hope that Kuminga has finally grown up and that he’ll be a different player who channels his considerable talent into defending, rebounding and making winning plays.

Kumingas actually been an excellent rebounder per 36 for his position. That said, he's probably had more ops not playing with many good to great other rebounders too, so numbers could be slightly skewed. Same with Ball, he's an excellent rebounder as well for a PG, but again he's not been playing with Rudy nor Duncan in his prime either so maybe more balls were available for him to grab. We just added two excellent rebounders for their positions though based on stats which is huge, rebounding matters a lot to W/L's.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 11:19 pm Our old friend Camden came up with an idea of trading Green for Caleb Martin and a 2nd

Makes a lot of sense for both teams, gets the wolves under the 2nd apron. It allows the Mavs to get off of Martin player option next year. And both players are probably 9th-12th men at this point their career

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 11:36 pm

kekgeek wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 11:19 pm Our old friend Camden came up with an idea of trading Green for Caleb Martin and a 2nd

Makes a lot of sense for both teams, gets the wolves under the 2nd apron. It allows the Mavs to get off of Martin player option next year. And both players are probably 9th-12th men at this point their career

That's the next question is if there are teams out there than value Green more a couple more million than the guy on their roster. And for the Wolves would it be worth doing that trade and adding salary for a guy like Martin or Buddy Heild instead of just waiving and stretching Green and signing a player instead? Maybe a 2 for 1 deal would appeal to a team? Also would Green be willing to take a buyout at all?

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 10:31 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:09 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:20 pm I will say, Kuminga does things Randle could only dream of...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBg2u7YOPvo

I couldn't stop watching that. That is one strong man. I also like that he can get his own shot, can't have too many of those guys.

Having a guy that has the skill set of a wing playing PF certainly has some value.

I'm hoping Kuminga is a guy that kinda figures it out after leaving the team he was drafted by. It did seem like statistically he did some good things overall with the Hawks and I'd say in a way the Wolves will be something kinda like the Hawks type of team only with even better players around him.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 7:44 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 7:43 pm Such a different team when we can talk players into what we have going on. The Wolves have officially changed their reputation. I think that is the biggest gain in all of this. Kuminga may or may not be a great fit but what a colossal shift in how players in the league view our roster and organization. Great job TC.

Great point Dope