Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has publicly questioned Jonathan Kuminga's decision to sign a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Arenas voiced his strong disapproval on his podcast, suggesting that Kuminga might have been influenced to accept a suboptimal deal.
"Someone is getting you paid to look the other way because there’s no f–king way that you should have been signing these bulls–t deals," Arenas stated on his show, @GilsArenaShow/X. He added, "Now you’re talking about you’re in a two-year deal. You signed a podcast deal, like I said. You’re playing with two max players, three max players. You’re the fourth, fifth option. And you think you’re gonna do what?"
Kuminga, 23, reportedly chose to join the Timberwolves despite the Los Angeles Lakers offering a deal that would have provided a similar annual salary. The forward has stated his desire to join a winning culture, though the Timberwolves have not yet won an NBA championship. Kuminga's move to Minnesota places him alongside players like Anthony Edwards. The Lakers had pitched Kuminga on the idea of starting alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers and Kuminga had engaged in contract negotiations throughout the offseason but did not reach an agreement. The Lakers are still seeking to acquire a versatile wing defender before the upcoming season begins.
