NBA Insider Details How Lakers Can Acquire Jonathan Kuminga From Hawks

NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report recently detailed how the Los Angeles Lakers can acquire Jonathan Kuminga from the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Lakers have chased Kuminga for much of the summer.

"The Lakers can get to a reasonable starting salary for Kuminga by trading two of Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht," Pincus wrote. "Los Angeles can pad that outgoing amount by about $9.1 million. But L.A. also has a first-apron hard cap. If Hardy and Knecht were the pair sent out, the most Kuminga could get in year one is about $18 million for $56.7 million over three years.

"Roping in a third team for Hardy and/or Knecht would help keep the Hawks out of the tax, which seems like a requirement if the Lakers intend to acquire Kuminga. 'Should' is a different question; his inconsistent outside shot and midrange game are not an ideal fit, though he is certainly young (nearing 24) and athletic."

The Hawks made Kuminga an unrestricted free agent by declining his team option for next season. Los Angeles needs a starting small forward next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler after losing LeBron James Rui Hachimura in free agency. 

Kuminga played for the Golden State Warriors and Hawks last season. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 72.4% from the free-throw line.

The Hawks lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2026 playoffs in six games. Kuminga averaged 13.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the six-game series. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round in four games.

The Hawks have been busy this offseason. They signed CJ McCollum to an extension, re-signed Jock Landale, acquired Devin Carter from the Sacramento Kings, Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort from the Thunder and Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks, declined Kuminga's team option and drafted Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar in the 2026 draft.   

Atlanta's core moving forward is Dort, Wiggins, McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu.  

Kuminga's restricted free agency with the Warriors last summer took forever. It appears his unrestricted free agency this summer will drag out too. 

Kuminga has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in the regular season and 8.0 points per game in the playoffs. He won the 2022 championship with the Warriors against the Boston Celtics.