Are we close to a resolution with Jonathan Kuminga?
The saga between the Los Angeles Lakers and Jonathan Kuminga could finally be coming to an end.
The Lakers have pursued Kuminga all season as they have completely revamped their roster from what fans saw leave the floor after the team was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
The team reportedly offered Kuminga a deal worth $10 million annually, but Kuminga opted to see if a better offer came along. Kuminga became an unrestricted free agent at the start of the offseason after the Atlanta Hawks declined his team option.
The Lakers have spent all their money in the offseason, leaving Kuminga’s path to Los Angeles to come via sign-and-trade.
The Latest on Kuminga
According to Jake Fischer of the Stein Line newsletter during a Bleacher Report stream, Kuminga prefers to play in Los Angeles over Minnesota, and he expects a resolution soon.
He went on to add that the Lakers and Timberwolves have told Kuminga that he’ll be a starter on the team.
The Lakers added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Jaden Hardy, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and rookie Cameron Carr in the offseason, reshaping their roster to better fit around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Doncic, Reaves, Kessler, and Kuminga would have guaranteed starting spots, with the fourth spot up for grabs depending on how players fit or if the Lakers want to go smaller by playing Grimes or Thybulle at the three with Kuminga at the four, or bigger by putting Kuminga at the three with Mamukelashvili at the four.
Will It Happen?
It’s dragged on to this point, and there are still hurdles to clear. The Hawks don’t have to do a sign-and-trade unless it makes sense for them. They are already two contracts over the roster limit, and they don’t want to go over the tax line. They are currently about $4 million under.
If this sign-and-trade is going to happen, it will likely have to involve a third team so that Atlanta doesn’t have to take back contracts or salary.
The Lakers are also dealing with a roster crunch as they have 16 players under contract. They would move at least one player, reportedly Jaden Hardy or Jarred Vanderbilt, but adding Kuminga keeps them at 16.
The complications of a potential multi-team deal are likely why the situation with Kuminga has reached the end of August.
