Jonathan Kuminga’s agent does not look back fondly on his client’s final days with the Golden State Warriors.
Kuminga signed a modest two-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this week. The move had some fans clamoring for Kuminga to fire his agent, Aaron Turner, over what they believed was a poor string of career decisions dating back to his time with the Warriors.
Turner defended himself during a recent interview with Chandler Parsons. The veteran agent pointed out the unusual circumstances Kuminga faced in Golden State, where decision-makers seemed torn in their opinion of him as a player.
“Probably the weirdest negotiation of all time,” Turner told Parsons. “Something that I said you’ll never see again, where a Hall of Fame coach comes out and says, ‘This guy, JK, he’s a really good and talented player, but doesn’t fit the roster with Draymond and Jimmy’
“And on the flip side of that, you have the front office and owner offer him money in the [$20+ million range].”
It was no secret that Kerr was not the biggest fan of Kuminga, who never managed to secure a primary role in Golden State’s offense over the years. Despite that, Warriors owner Joe Lacob remained interested in offering him a relatively large contract to stay. But Kuminga’s camp evidently wanted his role to match whatever dollar figure the team was offering.
Kuminga previously turned down a three-year, $75 million contract from the Warriors that offered him more guaranteed money but included a team option on Year 3. He ended up signing a shorter deal to maintain more control over his future. That control led him to sign a significantly smaller contract with the Timberwolves, enabling him to test free agency again next offseason.
The 23-year-old could still win big if he has a breakout campaign with the Timberwolves next season. Kuminga is expected to get the permanent starting role he had hoped for in Minnesota next to All-Star guards Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
But if that doesn’t happen and the bag he was hoping for never comes, Kuminga may very well be in the market for a new agent soon.
