Signing LeBron James should be the Cleveland Cavaliers' top priority, but Jonathan Kuminga would be a viable backup option.
The LeBron James third free-agent saga has reached week three, with the entire NBA awaiting his decision, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There are plenty of reasons why returning to Cleveland is the best scenario for LeBron as he's in the twilight of his career.
However, the Cavaliers and the front office still need to be prepared for the event that James opts to sign elsewhere, such as the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, or Golden State Warriors.
If James doesn't come home, Cleveland's backup plan is pretty clear.
Jonathan Kuminga Should Be Cavaliers' LeBron James Backup Plan
The Cavaliers desperately need more forward depth, which is one of the reasons that James would fit so perfectly in Cleveland.
If LeBron does go elsewhere, the Cavaliers can't ignore the fact that they don't have a starting small forward after Dean Wade's departure; Cleveland needs to make an addition.
Outside of LeBron, the next best forward on the free agent market is Jonathan Kuminga, and going after him needs to be Cleveland's backup plan if they lose out on James, and the Cavaliers have already reportedly expressed interest in him.
In terms of fit, Kuminga is precisely what the Cavaliers should be looking for out of a small forward. Coming in at six-foot-seven and 225 pounds, Kuminga would seamlessly slide into Cleveland's starting lineup.
Kuminga split time between the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors last season. Between both teams, he ended up averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
The forward may not be known for his defense, but his career defensive rating of 113 shows that he wouldn't be a liability on that end of the floor either.
All in all, Kuminga is a well-rounded player who could match the Cavaliers' playstyle.
Dec 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (1) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesPlus, multiple existing connections between Kuminga and the Cavaliers could enable a positive partnership for both sides.
The Cavaliers actually did a workout with Kuminga ahead of the 2021 draft, before they ended up selecting Evan Mobley No. 3 overall.
Even though Cleveland didn't select Kuminga, Koby Altman has shown in the past how valuable they take pre-draft workouts, even if it's something they come back to years later.
The other connection, and perhaps even more notable, is that Kenny Atkinson already has years of experience working with Kuminga.
Atkinson was on the Warriors coaching staff from 2021-24, overlapping with Kuminga's first three years in the NBA. Of course, the 23-year-old has grown and developed since then, but Atkinson still has prior knowledge of his strengths as a player.
Signing LeBron James should remain Cleveland's top priority, but the Cavaliers should be ready to shift to Kuminga, too.
