NBA News August 27: Kuminga to the T-Wolves, Curry extension and Lakers in court

Jonathan Kuminga has finally made his decision: the Minnesota Timberwolves will be the next stop in his career. After weeks of rumors linking him to the Lakers as well, the 23-year-old has signed a two-year deal worth around $13 million and will immediately have a major opportunity alongside Anthony Edwards.

But that’s not all: Bennedict Mathurin is headed to New Orleans, Ben Simmons is trying to convince Sacramento, and the internal battle within the Buss family is heating up again in Los Angeles.

Kuminga chooses Edwards and the Timberwolves

After months of uncertainty, Jonathan Kuminga is headed to Minnesota. The former Warriors forward has agreed to a two-year deal with the Timberwolves worth around $13 million total, with a player option for the second season. It’s significantly less than the contract he signed with Golden State just one summer ago, but it gives him an immediate chance to reset his career with a team that has serious ambitions.

And he had alternatives. According to ESPN, the Lakers, Bulls and Trail Blazers had made offers, but Kuminga chose Minnesota. Anthony Edwards also reportedly played a role in recruiting his new teammate.

The reason is fairly easy to understand when looking at the projected lineup. Kuminga is expected to play alongside LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, joining a team that wants to be among the best in the Western Conference right away. For him, it could also be the ideal environment to bounce back after a difficult final season.

Now comes another opportunity – and probably his last chance to prove he can consistently become something more than a very good role player.

Mathurin starts over in New Orleans

Bennedict Mathurin has also found a new home. The 24-year-old has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans, with a player option for the second season. For New Orleans, it’s a gamble with very little financial downside.

The question is what his true ceiling can be on a competitive team. But at $8 million per year, the Pelicans can comfortably afford to find out.

If it works, New Orleans gets a 24-year-old scorer at a bargain price. If it doesn’t, the second year still doesn’t represent a major commitment. On paper, it’s the kind of move that makes plenty of sense.

Jeanie Buss against her siblings: Lakers chaos returns

In Los Angeles, meanwhile, basketball has almost taken a back seat. Jeanie Buss has once again turned to the courts in an attempt to stop the sale of the Lakers stake still held by the family.

According to reports in the United States, Jeanie is challenging the validity of the vote in which her five siblings decided to proceed with the sale. She has also reportedly asked for them to be removed from their positions as trustees.

The situation inevitably brings back memories of the family dispute in 2017, when control of the franchise was already at the center of an internal battle. This time, however, the stakes are even higher.

The Lakers have gone through a massive ownership transition in recent months, and the Buss family’s remaining stake is now worth an enormous amount of money. What appeared to be the final chapter of the family’s involvement with the franchise could therefore turn into another lengthy legal battle.

Ben Simmons is seriously trying to return

And then there’s Ben Simmons. After spending an entire season away from the NBA, the former No. 1 overall pick is seriously attempting to return to the league, and Sacramento appears at least willing to find out what he has left.

Kings general manager Scott Perry is reportedly expected to personally attend a Simmons workout in Florida. Sacramento is looking for a veteran to play behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and is also considering Gabe Vincent.

For Simmons, the situation is completely different from a few years ago. Nobody expects him to become the All-NBA player he was projected to be in Philadelphia. He doesn’t need to be a star, nor does he need to justify a massive contract.

He simply needs to show that he is healthy, can defend and can provide quality minutes as a secondary playmaker.

Curry, saturday could bring an important date

Finally, keep an eye on the Golden State Warriors. Starting August 29, Stephen Curry will be eligible to sign a new two-year extension worth approximately $136.7 million with the Warriors. The franchise’s willingness doesn’t appear to be an issue: Golden State is ready to accommodate its superstar’s wishes.

The real question is: will Curry sign immediately? Brian Windhorst has suggested that waiting could help the Warriors maintain greater salary-cap flexibility and build a better team around him.

Stephen Curry wants to finish his career with the Warriors, but he also wants to keep competing for something meaningful. The decision on his contract could therefore be much more strategic than it initially appears.

NBA News by Dunkest returns tomorrow with all the biggest stories from around the NBA.