The Los Angeles Lakers are NOT messing around in their hunt for a fifth starter, with the team heavily pursuing NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga to fill that crucial power forward spot. It’s been a tougher search than anyone expected, but LA is going all in.
Kuminga’s Price Tag and the Lakers’ Aggression
Seriously, the Lakers are not holding back on Jonathan Kuminga. This guy, a former Golden State Warriors forward, has a rep for being tough to negotiate with. But LA? They’ve stayed aggressive and already put a massive offer on the table. NBA reporter Evan Sidery spilled the tea: “The Lakers have offered Jonathan Kuminga a contract via sign-and-trade that would pay him around $45 million. Los Angeles is willing to send Jarred Vanderbilt alongside draft capital to the Hawks for Kuminga, who must sign at least a three-year deal in sign-and-trade agreements.” A deal for Kuminga almost certainly needs that sign-and-trade route, which means the player package is the biggest question mark.
The Bronny Bomb: A Wild Card in the Trade
Now, here’s where it gets wild: Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes Bronny James could actually be part of this trade package. Watts thinks “Bronny has room to grow, and some team could take a shot on him. The 6’2 guard has yet to crack the nightly rotation, but shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range in the NBA and being a plus-shooter in the G League should be enough for some team to offer a second-round draft pick for him. That alone could get a sign-and-trade done for Jonathan Kuminga.” Bronny’s got upside and could totally be a valuable role player somewhere else. Plus, he’s already made NBA history, sharing the court with his dad, LeBron James, during his rookie season. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin even noted they made history being on the court together in the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Bronny was courtside when LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Right now, Bronny’s on a $7 million contract with the Lakers. If moving him helps seal the Kuminga deal, it sounds like the organization is ready to pull the trigger.
Acquiring Kuminga is a top priority for Los Angeles. If Bronny gets moved, it’d give him a fresh opportunity with Atlanta or whatever team scoops him up. He’s already a fan favorite in LA and has flashed some serious potential in his two seasons. This could be a game-changer for the Lakers’ frontcourt.
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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