The Timberwolves have emerged as a new suitor for free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Minnesota is looking for a power forward to round out its starting lineup and has expressed interest in Kuminga after failing to land LeBron James.
While the Wolves can offer Kuminga a starting spot, they don’t have the ability to give him the $15-$20MM annual salary he’s said to be seeking. Minnesota only has the $6.1MM taxpayer mid-level exception available and can’t even offer the entire thing right now, since the team is just $4MM below the second apron.
Scotto adds that the Lakers have made a “significantly higher financial offer” than Minnesota on a longer contract for Kuminga, and the Cavaliers are willing to pay him much more as well. However, both those teams would require sign-and-trades and they’re not likely to guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup.
Scotto shares more information from around the league:
The Pelicans, Bulls, Bucks and Mavericks have all expressed interest in a sign-and-trade deal involving Clippers swingman Bennedict Mathurin, league sources tell Scotto. He notes that New Orleans attempted to trade for Mathurin when he was still with Indiana last year and still has its $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception available, though the club is just $8.2MM below the tax line and $9.9MM below the first apron.
Scotto confirms that the Pelicans have explored the trade market for Jordan Hawkins, including a potential deal with the Grizzlies involving AJ Johnson. Unloading Hawkins’ $7.02MM salary would put them in position to potentially add Mathurin and still avoid the luxury tax. Scotto adds that New Orleans also had some interest in Spencer Jones before he received an offer sheet from Oklahoma City that was match by Denver.
The Grizzlies are expected to unload Johnson and D’Angelo Russell before the start of the season to help relieve their roster crunch, league sources tell Scotto. Memphis currently has 19 players with standard contracts, and No. 32 overall pick Richie Saunders remains unsigned. Scotto notes that Taj Gibson‘s $3.82MM non-guaranteed deal makes him a candidate to be released as well. Scotto also hears that the Grizzlies want to hold onto Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who appeared in 53 games and made 24 starts after beginning last season on a two-way deal.
Scotto reports that James Harden and the Cavaliers are “harmoniously working together” on his next contract. Harden’s representatives are discussing two-year and three-year scenarios, according to Scotto’s sources.