Timberwolves missed out on $375M NBA champion, future Hall of Famer before signing Jonathan Kuminga
· Yahoo Sports
Timberwolves missed out on $375M NBA champion, future Hall of Famer before signing Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit likesport.biz for more information.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot of confidence heading into this season, as it is going to be one of the best they have had in a long time. The roster has been built well by the organization this summer.
Superstar Anthony Edwards has finally gotten some other stars around him, and things are looking bright heading into the season. Not too long ago, the Timberwolves added Jonathan Kuminga.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed. forward Jonathan Kuminga. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released. Kuminga, 23, wrapped up his fifth season in the NBA, splitting time between the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors after being traded to the Hawks on Feb. 5," the organization wrote. "Kuminga will wear #24 for the Timberwolves."
Minnesota also traded for LaMelo Ball right before the draft. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that they tried to trade for Kawhi Leonard, which would have sent the league into a frenzy.
“This is a complete legacy play for Kawhi,” Charania said. “There were teams — Detroit, Minnesota — others that had interest in trading for him, that wanted to trade for him, that wanted to give him an extension. But he made a decision because he had one year left on his deal to essentially weed out where he wanted to play, where he wanted to be. And so this is a legacy play for Kawhi Leonard. There’s no doubt about it.”
This is a crazy turn of events, as the Timberwolves had an even bigger opportunity to put a championship roster together. Leonard’s trade to Toronto was finalized earlier this week.
“The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers to Toronto has been made official after a monthslong delay due to the NBA's investigation into the Clippers for salary cap circumvention. The teams initially agreed to the deal on June 30, but it was paused while the league investigated allegations the Clippers violated salary cap rules in signing Leonard as a free agent,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
This is a crazy development, as Edwards would have had another superstar join the organization he wants to win a championship with. Leonard would have made Minnesota’s defense even more nightmarish.
Leonard has made $375 million throughout his potential Hall of Fame career. The Timberwolves did all they could, but it was Leonard who wanted to go back to Toronto. Still, it would have been an absolute shocker for the NBA champion to get traded to Minnesota.
More NBA news:
- 76ers predicted to sign $209M versatile 18-year veteran, reliable shooter, ex-LeBron James rival
- Nuggets predicted to part ways with $218M NBA champion, elite All-Star shot-maker in cap move
- Celtics predicted to trade Paul George for $240M high-scoring duo to pair with Jayson Tatum
- Pistons' Jalen Duren gets major sign-and-trade update as $10M contract stalemate continues