Jonathan Kuminga’s future is looking rough, with reports signaling he’s now pretty much locked into staying with the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers, who’ve been chasing him hard this summer, apparently fumbled a massive sign-and-trade opportunity, leaving everyone wondering what exactly went down in L.A.
The Pursuit and The Sticking Point
It’s no secret the Lakers are trying to overhaul their roster this season, pushing for younger talent to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Kuminga was definitely on their radar, with NBA reporter Evan Sidery even stating there was “mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers,” and L.A. working “behind the scenes to secure Kuminga’s commitment as their new wing addition.” But for some reason, despite all that mutual interest, the two sides just couldn’t seal the deal. With each passing day, it became more and more likely Kuminga would have no choice but to stick with Atlanta.
The Missed Window and the Consequences
So, what happened? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst spilled the tea, revealing the Lakers apparently blew their shot two weeks ago. When L.A. shipped Deandre Ayton to the Wizards, there was a “window where the Hawks could have gotten in on the trade,” and the Lakers could have “payed him… less than the mid level,” Windhorst said. Kuminga was the Lakers’ “top priority” back then, but now they’re reportedly “comfortable moving forward without him,” having already scooped up Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle on inexpensive deals. Talk about a brutal miss for the purple and gold.
Now, Kuminga’s stuck in a bind. Insider Anthony F. Irwin paints a bleak picture, saying “Returning to the Hawks doesn’t feel like an option for Kuminga.” Irwin even floated the idea that if LeBron James bolts for Cleveland, Kuminga really might not have any options beyond the Lakers. So Kuminga is probably holding his breath, hoping LeBron doesn’t sign with the Cavs. Was it a lack of perceived value from the Lakers, or just a massive blunder? Either way, Kuminga’s gotta hope Atlanta suddenly changes their tune on a sign-and-trade if he wants to get paid a reasonable amount. What a mess.
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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