July 22, 2026, 10:08 p.m. PT
While the Los Angeles Lakers may have less interest in forward Jonathan Kuminga than they did earlier this month, it does look like they still want to acquire him in a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
There have been differing reports about what the Hawks want in return from the Lakers, and according to at least one report, Kuminga is looking for a contract in the area of $20 million a year and possibly closer to $25 million a year. That dollar amount sounds steep, especially given his multiple red flags.
According to Khobi Price of the California Post, the Lakers were hoping to get him by sending Jarred Vanderbilt and a future first-round pick swap to Atlanta. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype proposed an alternative package: guard Jaden Hardy and wing Dalton Knecht in a three-team deal.
“The Lakers and Hawks had discussions on a Kuminga sign-and-trade that would’ve involved Jarred Vanderbilt and a Los Angeles 2032 first-round pick swap, as Khobi Price of the California Post first reported. However, the Hawks have been resistant to taking on Vanderbilt’s $13.29 million salary for the 2027-28 season, which is a player option.
“Could a combination of Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy, who both have team options for the 2027-28 season, work better in a three-team trade construct involving Kuminga landing with the Lakers and the Hawks getting a traded player exception along with draft pick compensation?”
If Los Angeles were to make this type of deal, it would likely have to give up something additional to the third team involved, and that something additional would probably be some sort of draft compensation.
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But in this scenario, Vanderbilt stays put. While he may have negative value right now because of his extreme limitations in offensive skill and ability, he may have more value next summer. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season at $13.29 million, and he will almost certainly exercise that option. Perhaps at that time, the Lakers could get rid of him in a trade without having to attach any draft capital since he would be an expiring contract by then.
Kuminga, 23, is 6-foot-7 and very athletic, and he has five-year career averages of 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22.1 minutes a game. He has been a subpar 3-point shooter and an inconsistent defender for most of his NBA career thus far, but some still believe in his vast untapped potential.