RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sourcesLakers urged not to sign $46M ex-Warriors NBA champion, focus on Klay Thompson, PJ Washington originally appeared on The Sporting News .
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Los Angeles Lakers have been all-in on Jonathan Kuminga since LeBron James informed the team that he would no longer be returning. However, it has been a lengthy process for Los Angeles to get a deal done.
Even throughout this process, the Lakers have not wavered and remain focused on Kuminga. Landing a deal for the young forward remains LA's top priority as the offseason continues.
“Jonathan Kuminga remains the Lakers' top free agent target before finishing their offseason. As the Cavaliers have pivoted to chasing Peyton Watson, Kuminga is the sole focus currently for Los Angeles. There could soon be momentum gathering on Kuminga to LA via sign-and-trade," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
With the Lakers seemingly being Kuminga's preferred destination, it still appears that his camp and the Atlanta Hawks are creating obstacles to a potential sign-and-trade. Nothing has moved in weeks, largely because Atlanta has not been satisfied with the trade package it could receive in return.
“It has reached the second month of what has become a second consecutive prolonged Kuminga free agency process. The Lakers met with Kuminga in the early hours of free agency, pitching him on a high-minutes role for a high-profile fringe contender in desperate need of athletic help on the wing. The opportunity appealed to Kuminga, but the sign-and-trade contract offer (years, money, package going back to Atlanta) didn't satisfy all sides. The Lakers remain interested in him, league sources said, but movement toward a deal has remained stalled for weeks,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater wrote.
With the process continuing to drag on, the Lakers have now been urged to move on from Kuminga and prioritize a trade for either Klay Thompson or P.J. Washington.
“Obviously, anything can change during the NBA offseason, as Kuminga could have a change of heart or decide Los Angeles is the best situation for him, but it seems like it is time for the storied franchise to move on. Perhaps the Lakers should focus on trading for Klay Thompson or P.J. Washington, both of whom have experience playing with Doncic,” SI’s Ryan Ward wrote.
At this point, it is fair to say that moving on from Kuminga would not necessarily be a bad idea. The Lakers have been pursuing him for nearly two months, and nothing has been finalized.
Kuminga was on a $46 million contract last season , while the Lakers are looking for someone who can make an immediate impact. It remains unclear whether Kuminga would be able to do that right away, but Thompson and Washington have already proven themselves throughout their careers.
For the Lakers, the decision ultimately comes down to how long they are willing to wait for Kuminga versus how quickly they can find another option to strengthen the roster around Luka Doncic.
More NBA news:
Cavaliers, Hawks, Clippers, Bucks in bidding war for $11M NBA champion, 23-year-old young star
Lakers' Austin Reaves' future in limbo after Walker Kessler's blockbuster trade, says NBA insider
Heat, Warriors, Cavaliers reportedly in battling for $305M future Hall of Famer, 17-year veteran
Lakers trade idea ships Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt for $46M NBA champion in mega 3-team deal
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.