CBS Sports' Sam Quinn says the Hawks have $4 million in tax room and 17 players on the roster, which complicates a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade with the Lakers.
The Jonathan Kuminga saga took another turn, raising the possibility that a sign-and-trade between the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers may face another obstacle.
Throughout the summer, the Lakers have expressed interest in Kuminga, who is an unrestricted free agent, but the financial tag has caused trouble toward a potential deal. One option that has floated through reports is the possibility of a sign-and-trade between the Hawks and Lakers.
Earlier in the Summer, a sign-and-trade was possible, but Atlanta recently acquired Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 19, which will impact their salary cap.
CBS Sports NBA Reporter Sam Quinn spoke about the unlikelihood of the Hawks being a part of a sign-and-trade with the Lakers.
"So right now, the Hawks have $4 million in tax room and 17 players on their roster," he tweeted on X on July 26. "Vanderbilt makes $12.4 million, and I can't see the Hawks going into the tax to get a 2032 pick swap and/or some seconds. So that's one pretty meaningful problem that has to get solved here."
Hawks Continue to Build Organically
While Quinn didn't say that the sign-and-trade won't happen, it ties into the mantra that Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh has been emphasizing. Leading up to the 2026 NBA Draft, he mentioned that the franchise is focused on building the roster organically.
Last season, Atlanta made the postseason, where they lost to the now-NBA champion New York Knicks. The Hawks will enter the 2026-27 season with more experience under their belt and expectations to advance to the second round of the postseason.
Trading for Vanderbilt would put Atlanta in the tax penalty, which will cost them more for the Lakers forward, who has been injury-ridden the last few seasons. If a team goes over the cap, it will be charged a specific fee based on league regulations.
Tax-paying teams are restricted from building out their roster and specific future moves depending on the player's contract.
In terms of draft picks, 2032 is not a sure thing to risk. Teams taking on draft picks do not always see a return on investment.
Jonathan Kuminga's Outlook
Before the sign-and-trade reports featuring Kuminga, his reported asking price with Los Angeles was $20 million a year. The Lakers also find themselves in a financial constraint with their offseason moves.
Hoops Hype Michael Scotto reported on July 22 that Kuminga could return to the Hawks on a one-year deal. A return could be an inexpensive move for the franchise, but play time could be limited with the team's recent addition of Dort.
Right now, if the season started today, the starting lineup could consist of McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (or Dyson Daniels) Dort, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu.
The second rotation could feature Kingston Flemings or Ryan Nembhard, Aaron Wiggins, Dort, Corey Kispert and Jock Landale.
