Topics: Football, Sports, Basketball
**Shannon Sharpe** (0:00)
Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Timberwolves. Part of the Minnesota pitch to Kuminga will fill the vacant starting role forward alongside Ant-Man, Lamelo Ball, Jane Daniels and Rudy Gobert on an established Western Conference. Joe, Golden State, he didn't play well. Atlanta, he didn't play well.
Minnesota team, will they be the team that gets the best? Because remember, he turned out like what? A $48 million deal from Golden State. He's bet on himself every location he's been. Is it finally time now that Jonathan Kuminga, the bet that he's placed on himself, is it finally going to pay off? I didn't think Kuminga played bad for the Hawks. I just think in the times that we really needed him, he couldn't really come through, but he showed flashes of brilliance to where you're like, damn, he looks like he could be a great cornerstone for a team.
I like him going to Minnesota. I think they have a bunch of guys who've been tested and want to come out and prove guys wrong, especially without having him in the lineup, you miss that element of a two-way player.
**Chad Johnson** (1:06)
Kuminga is great, dog.
**Shannon Sharpe** (1:07)
I think if he buys into the role, Unc and Ochocinco, and being somewhat of a Swiss Army knife, it's going to be nice where you get 16 shots. Hell, it's going to be nice where you probably ain't going to get but eight. You know what I mean? But your energy and effort has to be a constant. Night in and night out because that's what their team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, is going to need from him. They're going to need for him to do a little bit of everything. Guard some of the best players, hit a rebound, playmate, score times, and you got to hope he buys in. If he buys in, I think he has the talent to help them get over the hump. And that's the only problem. You know, he's just got to buy into the system.
Ocho, you like it? You like Kuminga going to Minnesota?
There was speculation that he might end up supporting the Lakers, being their starting line up, alongside Luka, Walker Kessler. I don't know who the other guys are going to start. But many people thought he was going to end up with the Lakers. Now, we know Jonathan Kuminga is now on a two-year deal, one plus one, with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
**Iso Joe Johnson** (2:10)
I mean, I like it. I like it.
I just, I don't know why he struggles so much. I'm not sure why he can't find a place, why he can't find a home, you know, be a starter. And I thought it was really good, especially for him to be making the noise that he made when he was with the Warriors and wanting to be, wanting to have a bigger role.
And the fact that he can't stick is just, it's confusing to me. It's confusing to me. So I think when you bounce around like this, I think it does something to your confidence. When you really think you're a little better than what others view you as, I think it can take a toll on you. I think it can take a toll on you. So hopefully this sticks for him and he's found a home.
**Shannon Sharpe** (2:53)
Think about this though, Ocho. That back line defense they got with Jaden Mc, with Jaden Daniels, Jaden Daniels, Rudy and Kuminga, man, defensively, I think they're going to be a monster defensive, especially I'm talking about when you're playing against upper echelon teams, meaning the OKC's, the Spurs, man, they got some talent to where they can really compete with the best. I mean, hell, if you're Minnesota boy, you lucky to get Kuminga. I mean, that's a void that you feel, and I think he going, I mean, you can assert him right away, a guy who's always in shape, the only thing he just has to buy into the system.
Yeah, I think now you're probably looking back, say, man, I probably should have took that three year deal, 48 million dollars from the Golden State Warriors.
It's kind of like Dennis Schroeder, remember he had that four year deal for 80 something million from the Lakers, and now he's been on nine teams in the last two and a half years.
I think the thing that's a little different for Kuminga, Unc, I don't think he wanted to even stay in Golden State, so him turning down that 40 something million, like that was like, man, I can get that whenever. I think he banking on himself now, let's say he go to Minnesota, let's say they do make it to the finals, you know what I mean, on a two-year deal, you make room for improvement and you'll still be able to get a long-term deal. It may not be from Minnesota here, but you still got other what, 31 teams who watch it. Yeah, I think the thing for him, Joe, he could not get out of his head, like, Steph. You're like, man, I can ball? You know, because sometimes you get caught up in a situation like, man, y'all let him shoot bad shots, but anytime I take a shot, y'all looking at me sideways, y'all snatch me out of the game. Yeah, he's Steph. Steph can take bad shots. There ain't enough bad shots Steph can take before Steve Curtis snatch him out of the ball game. You take one or two bad shots, they call the time out, you coming out of the game. It's a pecking order when you go to some of these teams. Obviously, playing in Golden State, it's a pecking order. Steph going to get the first right or refuse, it don't matter what type of damn shot he take, he can shoot whenever he want to. It ain't going to be much different in Minnesota. Ant-Man going to shoot when he want to. The great thing about Minnesota, the great thing about Minnesota is that LaMelo ball, he can score, but he's a pass first point guard. So like he'll be able to get those guys involved, he'll be able to get Kuminga easy buckets, he'll be able to get McDaniels easy buckets, Rudy easy buckets. So I think that's where they win right there. Because nowadays, if you're a point guard, you lead your team in scoring. You know what I mean? LaMelo isn't like that. I think he's going to be a great addition for Minnesota. I love the Kuminga pick up. I think the Timberwolves are trending in the right direction.
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