{"id":752219,"date":"2026-07-09T08:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T08:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/752219\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T08:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T08:43:15","slug":"nba-free-agency-how-can-lakers-acquire-jonathan-kuminga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/752219\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA free agency: How can Lakers acquire Jonathan Kuminga?"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAS VEGAS \u2014 The Lakers want Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jonathan Kuminga, also, wants to be a Laker.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers are working towards playing together this season, but still remain apart on the amount of money. Getty Images<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After the Hawks declined Kuminga\u2019s $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.<\/p>\n

A part of the Lakers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

That vision included re-signing Austin Reaves<\/a> and acquiring a marquee center this offseason \u2013 both of which were executed after Reaves agreed to a four-year $185 million deal to return to L.A.<\/a> and the Lakers agreed to a four-year, $130 million with Walker Kessler<\/a> in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kuminga\u2019s size and athleticism are exactly what the Lakers need alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

But the Lakers\u2019 initial offer to Kuminga didn\u2019t back up the vision they were pitching him.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million)<\/a>, Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million)<\/a> and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s a veteran minimum\u2019s deal.<\/p>\n

That has left the Lakers with one open roster spot and little financial flexbilitity while still pursuing Kuminga.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pelinka has stayed in touch with Kuminga\u2019s agent, Verus Management Team president Aaron Turner, over the last week as the franchise has made their moves.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Where things stand now<\/p>\n

The Lakers have improved their offers to Kuminga up to a deal that would include an average annual salary around $10 million \u2013 which is less than the salaries of Grimes ($13.9 million) and Mamukelashvili ($13 million).\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When factoring in the additions of Kessler, Sexton and Looney, plus Reaves\u2019 $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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s clear that a $10 million salary for Kuminga won\u2019t get a deal done now.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kuminga\u2019s side feels there are better options for him if he joins the Lakers.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/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. Los Angeles also has three second-round picks (Wizards two picks and its own 2033 pick) available to trade.<\/p>\n

Kuminga\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers also have strong interest in Kuminga, a source said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019t be returning to the franchise for his record-extending 24th NBA season.<\/p>\n

Other options\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday, it wasn\u2019t clear what other options the Lakers would have if they didn\u2019t acquire Kuminga \u2013 or at least ones that would fit into their vision similar to how they\u2019ve expressed to Kuminga.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Or fufill their combination of needs for size, athleticism, defense and youth on the wings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ziaire Williams, who\u2019s coming off a career-year with the Nets, is a player the Lakers eyed after the Nets declined Williams\u2019 $6.3 million team option to make him an unrestricted free agent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bruce Brown, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji are other unrestricted free agents still available.<\/p>\n

The Lakers have long been tied to trade rumors with Mavericks forward PJ Washington, a former teammate of Doncic\u2019s in Dallas, but the fully guaranteed $88.8 million Washigton\u2019s owed over the next four years isn\u2019t appealing to the Lakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Realistic Kuminga number?<\/p>\n

The Lakers are projected to be $12.9 million below the $209 million first apron threshold that they\u2019re hard-capped at once all of the moves they\u2019ve agreed to so far are official.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The salary range that Kuminga is seeking from the Lakers wasn\u2019t clear as of Wednesday.<\/p>\n

What is clear is that Kuminga wants to be a Laker. And the Lakers want Kuminga.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The vision and opportunities the Lakers have presented are appealing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s work to be done for alignment on the Lakers\u2019 offer to Kuminga before a deal can be reached.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t