Timberwolves Explored Sasha Vezenkov Return Before Kuminga
The Minnesota Timberwolves inquired about forward Sasha Vezenkov before signing Jonathan Kuminga, but no formal offer was made.
The Minnesota Timberwolves explored the possibility of recruiting forward Sasha Vezenkov back to the NBA before agreeing to sign free agent Jonathan Kuminga. League sources informed Marc Stein of The Stein Line about the inquiry.
Vezenkov, now 31, originally joined the NBA in 2023 with the Sacramento Kings after winning the EuroLeague MVP award with Olympiacos. His stint in Sacramento was limited. He appeared in 42 games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in just 12.2 minutes per contest.
| Statistic | Average |
|---|---|
| Points | 5.4 |
| Rebounds | 2.3 |
| Minutes | 12.2 |
Traded to the Toronto Raptors in the 2024 offseason, Vezenkov then took a notable step. He forfeited a fully guaranteed $6.7 million salary to void his NBA contract and return to Greece and Olympiacos.
Thriving Back Overseas
Since his return to Europe, the veteran forward has re-established himself as a top player. This past season, he led Olympiacos to a EuroLeague championship, secured another league MVP award, and earned a spot on the All-EuroLeague first team for the fourth time in his career.
Despite his success, Vezenkov has not completely ruled out a future NBA return, though he indicated it is not a current priority. He cited family and life in Greece as significant factors.
Reflections on NBA Experience
In comments to Stein, Vezenkov reflected on his previous NBA opportunity. He suggested his chance with the Kings during the 2023-24 season was not entirely fair to either party, but expressed no regret over the experience.
"Sometimes I think it was not a fair chance from both sides," Vezenkov said. "But I don't regret it all. It was a great experience."
He added that he learned and improved his game from facing the world's greatest players, noting that even a bad experience can be helpful.
No Formal Offer Made
According to Stein's reporting, the Timberwolves never advanced their interest in Vezenkov to the stage of a formal contract offer this offseason. It remains unclear if Vezenkov signaled a lack of interest or if Minnesota simply viewed him as a secondary option behind their primary target, Jonathan Kuminga.
A significant complicating factor is Vezenkov's current contract status. He is reportedly under contract with Olympiacos through the 2028-29 season, meaning any NBA move would have required handling a potentially difficult buyout agreement.
With the signing of Kuminga now complete, the Timberwolves roster holds 14 players on standard contracts. The team retains just enough space under the hard cap to add a 15th player on a minimum-salary deal.
