Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year, $12 million contract, filling a hole at power forward for a team that aims to contend in the Western Conference, a team source told The Athletic.

Kuminga, who averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks last season, notified the Timberwolves of his decision on Wednesday evening, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed. Kuminga chose the Timberwolves, who have a spot in the starting lineup ready for him, even though he could have made more money with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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.

Anthony Edwards was also integral in the Wolves’ recruiting effort, sources said. Edwards connected with Kuminga several times to encourage him to choose the Wolves over the Lakers and other suitors.

Minnesota’s newly reorganized ownership group, now helmed by Marc Stad and Alex Rodriguez, also empowered Connelly to become more aggressive in his Kuminga pursuit. The Wolves initially only had a veteran minimum contract to offer him, but ownership emphasized it was willing to up the ante if Kuminga needed a little more money to get it done.

ESPN first reported the deal.

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The Wolves will have to make a roster move to free up the additional $3 million and stay under the second apron. To make that happen, sources said the Wolves will likely look to trade veteran Josh Green, who is making $14.6 million, for a player making less money. The Wolves could also waive and stretch his salary to create the room needed to sign Kuminga.

It is a cost the Wolves were willing to pay to land a 6-foot-7, 225-pounder who will slide into the frontcourt right next to Rudy Gobert. Kuminga is still just 23 years old, putting him right in line with the young core of Edwards, Ball and Jaden McDaniels, all of whom are 25.

Kuminga was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and spent his first four and a half seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He was meant to be a featured component of the organization’s “two-timeline” approach that was aimed at sustaining the team’s success as Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson aged.

After an up-and-down tenure with the Warriors that included an NBA championship and also extended time outside of Steve Kerr’s rotation. Kuminga was traded in February, along with Buddy Hield, to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis. That move came less than five months after Kuminga and the Warriors agreed to a two-year deal worth nearly $50 million, including a team option for Year 2, following prolonged contract negotiations during his restricted free agency over the summer.

The Hawks declined that team option in late June. Kuminga played in just 16 regular-season games for the Hawks, averaging 12.3 points. He reached double figures in five of Atlanta’s six playoff games in April, including a 21-point performance to help give the Hawks a 2-1 first-round series lead over the eventual champion New York Knicks. Atlanta, however, would lose the next three games of the series.

In many ways, Kuminga is betting on himself. He did not get the big payday he wanted this summer and has yet to show the consistency of a player who was chosen as high as he was in the draft. But he has also had some real moments in the league, including when he averaged 20.8 points in Golden State’s five-game loss to the Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 Western Conference playoffs.

If he can fill this role in Minnesota, the money will come sooner rather than later. If he can give the Wolves the athleticism and power they need at that spot, a third conference finals in the last four seasons, or more, is right there for the taking.