Rumors continue to swirl around the Los Angeles Lakers’ interest in Jonathan Kuminga. According to the latest report from NBA insider Jake Fischer, released late on Monday, the Lakers still want Kuminga to sign and become their new starting small forward. However, Los Angeles wants the deal to be on its own terms.
“Sources say that the Lakers would still like to sign Kuminga and make him their starting small forward … provided that the 23-year-old is ultimately willing to accept a contract structure on the Lakers’ terms,” Fischer wrote on Marc Stein’s Substack (h/t The Lakers Review).
Fischer also mentioned that the Lakers and Hawks didn’t have substantial talks about a sign-and-trade.
“I have been repeatedly told by league sources familiar with the teams’ dynamic that the Lakers and Hawks never held meaningful discussions on a sign-and-trade proposal,” he wrote.
The Lakers have signed potential backups like Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle to bolster their wing depth. Los Angeles also signed Arthur Kaluma, but on a two-way contract.
In a way, that’s given them leverage against Kuminga in contract talks. If the former Warriors star wants to join the Lakers only, he will likely have to accept the team’s preferred contract terms, as they already have players that they might use if he doesn’t agree to a deal.
Along with the Lakers, the Cavaliers also remain interested in a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
It seems Jonathan Kuminga only has two options this offseason. The Cavaliers reportedly have been the only other team interested in his services, along with the Lakers.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Cavaliers are also eyeing a sign-and-trade for the former lottery pick.
Neither team has much flexibility to meet Kuminga’s rumored demands of an annual deal worth $20 million. The Cavaliers can still free up some more space than Los Angeles by altering the extension for James Harden.
If Cleveland signs him to a three-year deal instead of two, it will have slightly more to offer than the Lakers.
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