Follow us on Google Discover The Los Angeles Lakers could still make a move to acquire free agent Jonathan Kuminga through a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers were linked to Kuminga at the start of free agency, after their rapid business in the first day of free agency essentially set their roster up with a glaring weakness at power forward, with LeBron James and Rui Hachimura leaving the franchise.
After the Lakers were reportedly priced out of acquiring Kuminga, the team is re-emerging as one of the leading contenders to acquire him, but only if the Hawks agree to a sign-and-trade.
Lakers potential Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade pursuit is alive again
NBC Sports is reporting that the Lakers and Hawks are re-engaging in sign-and-trade talks, with Lakers guard Jaden Hardy potentially heading to Atlanta in this deal.
“The Lakers and Hawks are talking sign-and-trade again, with guard Jaden Hardy reportedly in the conversation (he makes $6 million this season), while previously that was Jared Vanderbilt ($12.4 million).”
Hardy, a former Doncic teammate, joined the franchise this summer in a trade from the Wizards, but could be routed to the Hawks for Kuminga.
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Kuminga declined a two-year, $10 million offer from the Lakers in free agency, but would likely be forced to sign an even worse contract for a minimum of three years to be sign-and-trade eligible.
The Lakers can only offer Kuminga a veterans’ minimum at this point, so trading a scoring guard like Hardy is the only option left in this pursuit, with the Hawks not wanting Vanderbilt’s contract.
Lakers could lose Jonathan Kuminga to a Western Conference rival
While the Lakers re-entered talks for Kuminga because the Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson and left the race for Kuminga, other teams are eyeing the 23-year-old forward as well.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have their tax mid-level exception worth around $6 million to offer Kuminga straight up, allowing the forward to hit the market again in a year or two.
The Lakers can only realistically acquire Kuminga via sign-and-trade, mandating Kuminga signs a three-year budget deal while forcing the Hawks to take on a contract when they don’t need to.
With the Hawks already having 17 players on their roster without Kuminga, making that 18 by adding Hardy complicates their roster even more.
If Kuminga agrees to sign as a free agent anywhere, it would be easier for the Hawks to let him go for nothing instead of accepting a disadvantageous trade with the Lakers that forces them above the first apron and limits their roster flexibility for a player who is technically off the books already.
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