Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has publicly demanded the league investigate Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, calling the deal "fishy."
Arenas expressed major doubts on his podcast, shocked by the financial terms. Kuminga reportedly turned down a much larger extension with the Golden State Warriors last year, a deal worth around $75.2 million over four seasons. After a trade to the Atlanta Hawks, many expected him to secure a similar payday in free agency. Instead, he signed for a fraction of that value with Minnesota. "Every year that you don’t take the deal that you originally had, that money would have been in your pocket already," Arenas said. He suggested hidden payments might be involved, telling listeners, "Check your family members. Someone is getting you paid to look the other way."
The call for an investigation comes shortly after the NBA found the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard guilty of salary cap circumvention. That ruling has placed every new contract under intense scrutiny. Arenas believes Kuminga's decision to accept such a significant pay cut, estimated at over $60 million in potential earnings, doesn't add up under normal circumstances. While players sometimes take less to join a contender, the sheer size of the difference raised red flags for the former All-Star guard. He was blunt in his assessment, stating there's "no way" a player in Kuminga's position should sign such a contract without other arrangements.
For the Timberwolves, adding a young, athletic forward like Kuminga could provide a boost. However, the surrounding controversy is an unwanted distraction. Integrating a new player amid league scrutiny adds another layer of complexity to their offseason.
Kuminga has publicly stated his reason for joining Minnesota was to be part of a "winning culture." The Timberwolves have established themselves as a playoff-caliber team in the Western Conference. The 22-year-old forward is betting on his fit within their system to increase his value for his next contract. Critics, including Arenas, remain skeptical that culture alone explains forsaking tens of millions of dollars. The NBA has not indicated if it will open a formal review, but the public comments from a high-profile former player ensure the deal will be watched closely. The Timberwolves' front office will hope their basketball reasoning is enough to satisfy the league's accountants.
