The Los Angeles Lakers are somehow still chasing Jonathan Kuminga, even after he reportedly turned down a two-year, $20 million offer from the team. You’d think signing two other forwards and having a full roster would signal they were out of the race, but nope, Rob Pelinka clearly hasn’t gotten the message, or he just doesn’t care.
The Money, the Hawks, and the Standstill
Look, Kuminga’s been linked to the Lakers for weeks, and the buzz is he’s super interested in wearing purple and gold. The Lakers have been high on him since his Golden State days. So what’s the hang-up? Money, pure and simple. Kuminga wants more than the $20 million the Lakers put on the table. To try and make it work, LA even explored a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, possibly trying to move a veteran like Dalton Knecht or Jared Vanderbilt. But the Hawks played hardball, asking for the Lakers’ first-round pick swap, which is pretty much their biggest trade asset. And guess what? LA isn’t budging on that price. So, everyone’s just staring at each other right now, totally stuck.
LeBron, the Cavs, and Pelinka’s Unending Pursuit
You’d figure after signing Zaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, two guys who play positions similar to Kuminga’s, the Lakers would just walk away. They filled the need, right? Wrong. According to ESPN reporter Anthony Slater, Pelinka is still absolutely obsessed with Kuminga. Slater said, “They’re still after at least one more. I can tell you that they keep calling Jonathan Kuminga.” He added that they just haven’t made an offer lucrative enough for Kuminga to bite. This whole situation gets even wilder when you factor in LeBron James. The “LeBron domino” is apparently affecting what Kuminga can even get. The only other team supposedly in the mix for Kuminga is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could also do a sign-and-trade. If LeBron decides to sign with the Cavs, that could close the door for Kuminga there, making the Lakers’ chances of finally landing him actually increase. For now, the Hawks might just keep him on a cheaper deal, but man, as time ticks on, all eyes are on Pelinka’s phone and Kuminga’s decision.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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