NBA Notes: Timberwolves, Jonathan Kuminga, Lakers, Bruce Brown, Kings

Timberwolves

Jonathan Kuminga got what he wanted. Now comes the part where he has to make it work.

Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Timberwolves on Wednesday, complete with a player option for the second season. He’ll also get a starting job alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

Not bad for a guy who remained available until late August. But Charlie Walton of NBA on SI raised the more interesting question: Can Kuminga become the type of player Minnesota actually needs?

As Walton noted, Timberwolves president Tim Connelly said recently that Minnesota needed someone who could “do more with less.” That’s probably a pretty good description of Kuminga’s assignment.

The Wolves don’t need him dribbling the air out of the ball or trying to prove he’s a 25-point scorer. They already have Edwards and Ball for that sort of thing. They need Kuminga defending, rebounding, running the floor, cutting and finishing.

Basically, do the dirty work and take the points when they come.

Kuminga has always possessed the talent. That was never really the issue during his stops with the Warriors and Hawks. Now he’s on a short contract with another chance to show he can turn all that talent into winning basketball.

If he does, he’ll probably get paid considerably more the next time around.

Lakers

Meanwhile, the Lakers spent a good portion of the summer being mentioned as a potential Kuminga destination. Well, so much for that idea.

Ryan Ward of NBA on SI noted that Los Angeles now has to determine whether there’s another move worth making before camp. Veteran guard Bruce Brown is one name that has been linked to the Lakers, though they already have 16 players under contract and need to get down to 15.

In other words, somebody has to go before somebody else comes.

Brown isn’t Kuminga. He’s 30, not 23, and doesn’t offer the same athleticism or upside. But he does have championship experience and shot 38.5 percent on 3-pointers last season.

The Lakers could also explore the trade market, though we’re basically at the point in the offseason when everyone has found a chair and the music has stopped.

Either way, Kuminga isn’t coming. So whatever Plan B was, it’s probably time to dust it off.

Kings

Yes, we’re talking about the Kings again.

Will Zimmerle of NBA on SI laid out the basketball case for Sacramento signing Ben Simmons, and there actually is one. Simmons can still handle the ball, pass and defend multiple positions, assuming he’s healthy enough to resemble something close to the player he once was.

The Kings also have enough shooting that his refusal to shoot from anywhere outside arm’s length of the basket might not be quite as damaging.

Still, Simmons is 30 and didn’t play in the NBA last season. Sacramento isn’t exactly one Ben Simmons away from anything.

But as a cheap 14th man? Why not? The Kings have been looking for another veteran ball-handler behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr., and GM Scott Perry reportedly watched Simmons work out in Florida this week.

At this stage, that’s really all this would be: a flier. Sometimes those work. Sometimes you find out why the guy was still available in late August.