The Hawks may have declined Jonathan Kuminga\u2019s team option, making him an unrestricted free agent, but they might still factor into his next destination.<\/p>\n
With Kuminga being a five-year player with a high upside, multiple teams, including the Lakers, are interested in the wing.<\/p>\n
Perhaps if another team can get involved, everyone can benefit and get what they want. That\u2019s where Atlanta comes in.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 2032 first-round pick swap \u2013 the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this summer.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is something the Hawks would like. They avoided paying Kuminga by declining his option, and now they are being rewarded with picks and a defensive player in Jarred Vanderbilt if the Lakers agree to this.<\/p>\n
If the numbers work, Kuminga could get a better deal than what LA originally offered. The Lakers could acquire him, and the Hawks would gain the assets they want.<\/p>\n
Price also reported later in the piece that the Lakers are open to moving Vando or other players in a trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key here is that just because the Lakers are willing to move certain players doesn\u2019t mean they will do so if the deal doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n
A bad move just to land a wing is even worse than not acquiring one at all. The Lakers don\u2019t have much money or roster spots left, so they have to figure out how to maximize this opportunity.<\/p>\n