NBA Notes: Timberwolves, Jonathan Kuminga, Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin, Jabari Parker

Timberwolves

The Timberwolves didn’t exactly play it safe this summer. That includes their decision to bet on Jonathan Kuminga.

Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports views Kuminga’s two-year, $12.4 million deal as a “low-cost, potentially high-impact move” for Minnesota, despite some lingering questions about his outside shooting and decision-making.

It’s not difficult to see the upside. Minnesota traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason, creating an opening at power forward.

Kuminga should give the Timberwolves considerably more defensive versatility at that spot while bringing another athletic finisher alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.

The offensive fit could be the more interesting part. Kuminga will presumably spend plenty of time cutting and working without the ball when Edwards and Ball are on the floor. But when one of them sits, Minnesota can give Kuminga more opportunities to create.

He’s said before that he believes he can become an All-Star. The Timberwolves don’t necessarily need that.

But if they get anything close for roughly $6 million this season? They’ll happily take it.

Clippers

Bennedict Mathurin‘s move to New Orleans is now free of any restricted-free-agent complications.

The Clippers have withdrawn Mathurin’s $8.8 million qualifying offer, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, making the 24-year-old an unrestricted free agent.

That clears the way for Mathurin to sign his previously agreed-upon two-year, $16 million contract with the Pelicans. The deal includes a player option.

Mathurin averaged 17.4 points in 26 games for Los Angeles after arriving from Indiana in the Ivica Zubac trade. His 3-point shooting fell off a cliff with the Clippers, dropping to 20.7 percent, but he remained productive overall.

He’ll join a crowded New Orleans backcourt that includes Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears.

The Pelicans will also have 16 players on standard contracts once Mathurin signs, meaning somebody has to go. Jordan Hawkins has reportedly been shopped and remains a candidate to be waived and stretched.

So yes, there could still be another transaction coming out of this one.

Free agency

Remember Jabari Parker? He’s 31 now, hasn’t appeared in the NBA since 2021-22 and apparently isn’t part of Partizan’s plans anymore, either.

Partizan coach Joan Penarroya confirmed that the club is preparing for the coming season without Parker despite the former No. 2 overall pick still being under contract.

“What I can explain is that we are building a team without Parker for the next season,” Penarroya said, via Eurohoops. “That is completely clear.”

Penarroya stressed that he respects Parker and called him “a good guy,” but there wasn’t much ambiguity about the basketball part.

“We are building a team without him.”

Where Parker goes from here remains to be seen. But whenever a recognizable former NBA lottery pick suddenly becomes available overseas, it’s at least worth keeping an eye on.