Kuminga rejected a lucrative contract with the Lakers to join the Timberwolves, calling it one of the best decisions of his career.

After rejecting higher guaranteed contracts offered by teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Jonathan Cuminga officially joined the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year, $13 million contract.

Despite the Lakers offering nearly double the Timberwolves' annual salary, and the possibility that the new contract would allow Cuminga to return to free agency next summer, he chose to gamble on himself once again. At Thursday's press conference, he stated that he was very firm in his decision.

“Looking back, I think joining Minnesota was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Cuminga said in an interview. “Look at this roster, look at the young core of the team, look at their past performances and future goals, and I feel that coming here was the right thing to do.”

With LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards controlling a lot of the ball, Cuminga may face the challenge of having less possession on the field, but he is confident in adapting to his new role: "My playing style, mentality and this team are a very good fit."

"Whether I'm in charge of fast breaks, screens, defense, or pushing the pace, I'm perfectly capable. I think I can be one of the best defenders on the team."

Kuminga also revealed that Edwards called him almost every day during the offseason to recruit him, and he was even more excited about partnering with Ball. Kuminga said frankly, "I watched him practice yesterday, and the way he passes is incredible. I've played with a lot of point guards in my career, but I've never seen anyone pass as well as LaMelo."

This offseason, the Timberwolves' management decisively let go of Randle and Reed, and completely reshaped their tactical style by acquiring Ball and Kuminga. As head coach Chris Finch gradually establishes the rotation and system, the extent to which this new Timberwolves team can reach will depend heavily on Kuminga's integration.

Image source: Internet