LAS VEGAS — The Lakers want Jonathan Kuminga.
Jonathan Kuminga, also, wants to be a Laker.
Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers are working towards playing together this season, but still remain apart on the amount of money. Getty Images
But as of Wednesday afternoon, over a week into the start of free agency, the two sides remained far apart on what it would take to bring the 23-year-old forward to L.A. despite the mutual interest.
After the Hawks declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option on June 29, Lakers president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with Kuminga the following day.
A part of the Lakers’ free-agency pitch to Kuminga, a source told the California Post, was the Lakers seeing Kuminga as a high-level, starting wing who would complete the vision of their roster reconstruction around superstar guard Luka Doncic.
That vision included re-signing Austin Reaves and acquiring a marquee center this offseason – both of which were executed after Reaves agreed to a four-year $185 million deal to return to L.A. and the Lakers agreed to a four-year, $130 million with Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz.
Kuminga’s size and athleticism are exactly what the Lakers need alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. NBAE via Getty Images
But the Lakers’ initial offer to Kuminga didn’t back up the vision they were pitching him.
From there, the Lakers, who entered the offseason with around $52 million in salary cap space, agreed to deals with several players on July 2 that ate into that cap space: Kessler, Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million).
Since then, they opened up more cap space (around $2.1 million) by trading Deandre Ayton to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy and a pair of Washington’s second-round picks (2031 and 2032) but that space essentially vanished when they agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.9 million contract with Kevon Looney that counts $2.49 million against the cap since it’s a veteran minimum’s deal.
That has left the Lakers with one open roster spot and little financial flexbilitity while still pursuing Kuminga.
Pelinka has stayed in touch with Kuminga’s agent, Verus Management Team president Aaron Turner, over the last week as the franchise has made their moves.
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Where things stand now
The Lakers have improved their offers to Kuminga up to a deal that would include an average annual salary around $10 million – which is less than the salaries of Grimes ($13.9 million) and Mamukelashvili ($13 million).
And less than what was expected in light of how the Lakers expressed they saw Kuminga, who the Lakers pursued as a restricted free agent last summer, according to a source.
When factoring in the additions of Kessler, Sexton and Looney, plus Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hold, the Lakers would have to shed over $20 million in salary from their 2026-27 roster to create the requisite cap space to sign Kuminga at a salary that starts around $10 million.
But it’s clear that a $10 million salary for Kuminga won’t get a deal done now.
Kuminga’s side feels there are better options for him if he joins the Lakers.
The main option that could help the Lakers acquire Kuminga: A sign and trade with the Hawks, which would allow Kuminga to receive a higher salary than the Lakers are able to offer Kuminga as an unrestricted free agent.
Kuminga has long considered himself a star and is looking for the right role that will allow him to showcase his talents. NBAE via Getty Images
A source told the Post the Hawks are willing to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers around the framework of Kuminga going to L.A. and the Hawks receiving Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap – the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this summer. Los Angeles also has three second-round picks (Wizards two picks and its own 2033 pick) available to trade.
Kuminga’s contract would have to be for at least three or four seasons (not including option seasons), and the first season must be fully guaranteed, if the Lakers acquired him in a sign and trade.
Vanderbilt has two years and $25.7 million left on his four-year, $48 million contract extension he signed with the Lakers in September 2023. He has a $12.4 million salary for 2026-27 and a $13.3 million player option for 2027-28.
The Lakers have been willing to trade Vanderbilt, according to multiple sources who spoke with the Post who were granted anonymity so they could speak freely, as well as other players on the roster in order to create more roster-building optionality.
The Cavaliers also have strong interest in Kuminga, a source said.
But the Cavaliers, whose head coach Kenny Atkinson coached Kuminga while Atkinson was an assistant coach with the Warriors from 2021-24, are also in the midst of the sweepstakes for LeBron James, who informed the Lakers last week he wouldn’t be returning to the franchise for his record-extending 24th NBA season.
Other options
As of Wednesday, it wasn’t clear what other options the Lakers would have if they didn’t acquire Kuminga – or at least ones that would fit into their vision similar to how they’ve expressed to Kuminga.
Or fufill their combination of needs for size, athleticism, defense and youth on the wings.
Ziaire Williams, who’s coming off a career-year with the Nets, is a player the Lakers eyed after the Nets declined Williams’ $6.3 million team option to make him an unrestricted free agent.
Bruce Brown, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji are other unrestricted free agents still available.
The Lakers have long been tied to trade rumors with Mavericks forward PJ Washington, a former teammate of Doncic’s in Dallas, but the fully guaranteed $88.8 million Washigton’s owed over the next four years isn’t appealing to the Lakers.
Realistic Kuminga number?
The Lakers are projected to be $12.9 million below the $209 million first apron threshold that they’re hard-capped at once all of the moves they’ve agreed to so far are official.
This leaves them room to take back more money than they send out in a potential sign-and-trade for Kuminga, or a deal for any other player.
The salary range that Kuminga is seeking from the Lakers wasn’t clear as of Wednesday.
What is clear is that Kuminga wants to be a Laker. And the Lakers want Kuminga.
The vision and opportunities the Lakers have presented are appealing.
But there’s work to be done for alignment on the Lakers’ offer to Kuminga before a deal can be reached.
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