Report: Hawks Free Agent Jonathan Kuminga Continues to Be Linked to Cavaliers, Lakers

Atlanta Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga continues to be linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. 

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

Atlanta acquired the forward from the Golden State Warriors last season. 

Many people around the NBA believe Kuminga will leave the Hawks via a sign-and-trade deal. 

Kuminga's restricted free agency with the Warriors took FOREVER last summer. Let's see how long his unrestricted free agency lasts this summer.

In 16 regular-season games with the Hawks last season, Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He helped Atlanta make the 2026 playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. 

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

Kuminga enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He won the 2022 championship with the Warriors against the Boston Celtics. 

The Hawks have been active this offseason. They re-signed CJ McCollum and Jock Landale and acquired Devin Carter from the Sacramento Kings and Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

In the 2026 NBA Draft, Atlanta got Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar. Atlanta appears to have a bright future with Jalen Johnson, McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels leading the way in the post-Trae Young era.

Anthony Slater of ESPN recently reported that "Kuminga could return to the Hawks on a more team-friendly structure than the $24.3 million option they just declined, though such a reunion isn't being actively discussed."

It really feels like Kuminga and the Hawks will part ways this summer. We just have to wait and see where Kuminga will call home next.

The Lakers want to pair Kuminga with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler after losing LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers' interest in Kuminga would likely be dependent on LeBron not signing with the franchise this summer.