Report: Hawks FA Jonathan Kuminga Being Heavily Pursued by Cavaliers, Lakers

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, Atlanta Hawks unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga is being heavily pursued by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Hawks made Kuminga an unrestricted free agent by declining his team option for next season. 

Cleveland and Los Angeles need a starting small forward, which is why Kuminga has been linked to both teams. Unless the Hawks and Kuminga agree to a new deal, all signs point toward Atlanta signing and trading Kuminga this summer. 

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 and the Cavaliers lost to the Knicks in the conference finals in four games. 

LeBron James left the Lakers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, who also signed former Cavaliers wing Dean Wade. Cleveland needs a starting forward alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

Along with James, the Lakers also lost Rui Hachimura, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Purple and Gold need a starting forward alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. 

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.