LAS VEGAS — Lakers Eye Jonathan Kuminga
Both the Lakers and Jonathan Kuminga have an interest in making a deal happen. Kuminga, a talented forward, has expressed his desire to join the team and work towards a new season together.
However, as of Wednesday afternoon—over a week into free agency—their goals don’t quite align financially. After the Hawks declined Kuminga’s team option worth $24.3 million on June 29, Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with him the following day.
According to sources, the Lakers’ pitch included viewing Kuminga as a key starting wing to complement their rebuild around superstar Luka Doncic. This vision also involves retaining Austin Reaves and acquiring a top-tier center, both of which have been addressed with Reaves agreeing to a four-year, $185 million deal and the Lakers securing Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz for four years at $130 million.
Yet, the initial offer presented to Kuminga hasn’t quite aligned with what the Lakers envision for him.
At the start of the offseason, the Lakers had around $52 million in cap space. On July 2, they entered contracts with players like Kessler, Quentin Grimes at four years for $60 million, Sandro Mamukelashvili at four years for $52 million, and Collin Sexton for two years at $19 million, which ate into that cap space.
Since those deals, the Lakers have managed to create some additional cap room—about $2.1 million—but mostly lost it while agreeing to a one-year contract with Kevon Looney worth $3.9 million, which counts as $2.49 million against the cap due to its veteran minimum status.
This leaves them with just one open roster spot and limited financial flexibility in their pursuit of Kuminga. Pelinka has maintained communication with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, throughout the week.
Kuminga has long seen himself as a star and seeks the right opportunity to showcase his abilities. In light of this, the Lakers recently raised their offer to about $10 million annually, which still falls short compared to Grimes and Mamukelashvili’s salaries.
Kuminga’s camp believes they might have better options if they do ultimately come to the Lakers.
The primary possibility for the Lakers acquiring Kuminga hinges on a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, allowing him a higher salary than what the Lakers could provide as an unrestricted free agent.
Sources indicate that the Hawks are open to a trade that would send Kuminga to Los Angeles, involving Jared Vanderbilt and a future first-round pick from 2032. This would be the Lakers’ sole chance to trade away a first-round pick this summer.
Vanderbilt has two years remaining on a four-year, $48 million extension signed last September, which includes a $12.4 million salary for 2026-27 and a player option at $13.3 million for 2027-28.
The Lakers are willing to consider trading Vanderbilt and potentially other roster players to improve their options, according to various sources who spoke anonymously. The Cavaliers have also shown interest in Kuminga.
The Lakers are projected to stay approximately $33.7 million below the $209 million hard cap threshold now that all recent transfers have been officially agreed upon.
