Jonathan Kuminga’s Agent highlights Sacramento’s upcoming cap space flexibility

Jonathan Kuminga’s decision to take a significantly smaller contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves was not about leaving money on the table. According to his agent, Aaron Turner, it was about making sure Kuminga had control over where his career goes next.

The former seventh overall pick agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with Minnesota that includes a player option for the second season.

The deal came after the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and other teams were involved in varying degrees of interest in the 23-year-old forward.

For Turner, the decision ultimately came down to basketball and flexibility rather than maximizing Kuminga’s immediate salary.

“The money coming before basketball is not really how you’re going to continue to make more and more money,” Turner said in an interview with former NBA wing Chandler Parsons. “So put yourself in the best basketball situation. If you take a longer deal, you have no control over that.”

Jonathan Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, explains why he didn’t sign a 3-year, $75M extension with the Warriors:

“Money coming before basketball is not how you continue to make more and more money. … Next year is a way better free agency year for him…teams that have been… pic.twitter.com/tpeJMrHym0

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) August 29, 2026

More on Jonathan Kuminga

That philosophy helps explain why Jonathan Kuminga passed on more lucrative opportunities after spending much of the previous offseason in a highly publicized contract stalemate with Golden State.

Last summer, the Warriors offered a three-year, $75 million contract to the forward, but Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million deal with a 2026-27 player option to provide himself with more flexibility.

That decision ultimately allowed Kuminga to reach unrestricted free agency after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million option following the trade from Golden State.

Turner believes the same approach could pay off even more in 2027, when Kuminga enters his age-25 season.

“On paper next year for Jonathan Kuminga is a way better free agency year for him,” Turner said. “There’s a lot of teams with money.”

Among the teams Turner specifically mentioned was Sacramento.

“If you have paid attention to JK’s recruiting saga over the last few years, those teams that have been trying to sign-and-trade for him, like Sacramento, Chicago, these teams have a lot of money next year,” Turner said.

That makes Kuminga’s short-term deal particularly intriguing from a Kings perspective.

Sacramento has been linked to Kuminga over the past two offseasons, and Turner’s comments indicate the Kings remain part of the broader market Kuminga could enter next summer.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks in action during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 126-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Kuminga is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 36 games, shooting 46 percent from the field and 33 percent from three.

Now, with Minnesota, Kuminga gets another opportunity to establish himself in a new environment while maintaining control over his future.

“I love the idea he’s betting on himself,” Turner said. “I love the idea with the player option where he can go into another free agency.”

For the Kings, that could make Jonathan Kuminga a name worth watching once again. Sacramento is expected to shed at least $70 million in cap space with Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter currently on expiring contracts.

Could we see a Part III to the Jonathan Kuminga-Kings saga? We’ll find out next offseason.

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Sacramento Kings Schedule: 2026-27 Preseason

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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