Rui Hachimura's free agency is starting to overlap with the Jonathan Kuminga market.
Marc Stein reported that Hachimura remains unsigned as free agency moves through its third full day, and that his representation has been in contact with Minnesota and Golden State. The Timberwolves are said to view him as their current top choice at power forward.
The path there has already shifted. Stein reported that Hachimura was very much in play for San Antonio before Tobias Harris turned down a return offer from Detroit and quickly agreed to a two-year, $31 million deal with the Spurs.
Before free agency opened Tuesday at 6 PM ET, San Antonio and Brooklyn were often mentioned as the likely Hachimura suitors. Brooklyn may still have an estimated $13 million to $23 million in cap space, depending on the final structure of its coming trade to acquire Julius Randle from Minnesota.
Minnesota's need is more direct. The Wolves are set to move Randle and Naz Reid while building around LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, leaving a clear hole at power forward.
Golden State's contact adds another layer, but the Timberwolves appear to have the cleaner basketball need. Hachimura may not be getting the early payday some expected, yet the market is still alive because teams with specific frontcourt gaps are circling.
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