LAS VEGAS — Lakers Eye Jonathan Kuminga
The Lakers are actively pursuing unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, and it seems he has his sights set on joining them. However, the recent contract proposal from the Lakers doesn’t quite meet his expectations, leaving the two parties still at a standstill.
According to sources, the Lakers have offered Kuminga a deal with an average salary of around $10 million annually. This is a bit concerning as free agency is now well underway, and such salaries are becoming increasingly rare.
The Lakers envision Kuminga as their starting wing, aiming to build a competitive team around superstar Luka Doncic. Unfortunately, the offer currently on the table doesn’t reflect that vision, especially since the Lakers have committed significant funds to long-term contracts with Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, both of whom will earn no less than $13 million next season.
It’s clear that Kuminga is looking for a more lucrative deal from the Lakers.
But here’s the challenge for the Lakers: they’ve already allocated over $52 million in cap space this offseason with their current roster, which includes Grimes, Mamukelashvili, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and Kevon Looney. To make room for Kuminga, they would need to shed about $10 million in salary, not considering the yet-unofficial deals for Sexton and Looney, as well as re-signing Austin Reaves.
If those contracts go through, the Lakers might need to clear about $20.8 million to offer Kuminga that $10 million per season deal. That might not suffice to entice a talented forward like him.
As previously reported, the Lakers plan to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Hawks. The Hawks are looking to execute this agreement, potentially sending Kuminga to Los Angeles in return for Jared Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick. Additionally, the Lakers have a couple of second-round picks available for trading as well.
Kuminga’s contract would require a tenure of at least three or four seasons, and if acquired through a sign-and-trade, his first season salary must be fully guaranteed. This would help the Lakers manage their roster without sacrificing depth while also compensating Kuminga adequately.
If the sign-and-trade arrangement remains viable, it would be wise for the Lakers to seize the opportunity. Vanderbilt has two years and $25.7 million left on his contract, an extension he signed with the Lakers in September 2023. The Lakers are reportedly open to trading him to enhance their roster options.
It’s worth noting that even when healthy, Vanderbilt wasn’t consistently in the top nine players for the Lakers, while Kuminga has proven to be a more dynamic asset.
The draft picks involved in a trade are simply part of the business. If the Lakers outperform the Hawks down the line, the worth of that pick swap might diminish significantly.
There’s also the lingering question of how much the Lakers should offer Kuminga. A sign-and-trade deal with Vanderbilt could potentially allow them to pay Kuminga around $21.5 million in the 2026-27 season, which fits under their restrictive salary cap. This is comparable to contracts of several other players, but those options might be short-lived.
Although the Lakers could negotiate a three- or four-year deal in the $16 million to $19 million salary range, that would be low considering Kuminga’s potential and physical profile—qualities that are particularly appealing next to Doncic and Reaves.
Ultimately, if the Lakers want to secure a player of Kuminga’s caliber, it seems they’d need to take a stand. Their offseason has shown promise, but it could become a remarkable success if they finalize a deal with Kuminga. They shouldn’t wait much longer to back up their intentions with a solid offer.
