{"id":820243,"date":"2026-08-25T13:06:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/820243\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T13:06:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:06:17","slug":"lakers-links-to-jonathan-kuminga-re-emerge-with-new-potential-sign-and-trade-option","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/820243\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers links to Jonathan Kuminga re-emerge with new potential sign-and-trade option"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Follow us on Google Discover <\/a> <\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers could still make a move to acquire free agent Jonathan Kuminga through a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Lakers potential Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade pursuit is alive again<\/p>\n

NBC Sports<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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).\u201d<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\"AtlantaPhoto by Sarah Stier\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Lakers can only offer Kuminga a veterans\u2019 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\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n

Lakers could lose Jonathan Kuminga to a Western Conference rival<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

MORE NBA TRADE RUMORS STORIES<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t need to.<\/p>\n

With the Hawks already having 17 players on their roster without Kuminga, making that 18 by adding Hardy complicates their roster even more.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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