Jonathan Kuminga’s long free agency ride just hit a major curveball, with the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly dropping a sign-and-trade offer valued at around $45 million. This isn’t just talk, either: they’re pushing hard to bring the former NBA champ to the West Coast, and they’re willing to send Jarred Vanderbilt and some draft capital to the Hawks to make it happen. Talk about making a statement!
The Cavs Pulled a Fast One
Remember when the Cleveland Cavaliers were all over Kuminga? Yeah, feels like ancient history now. Both the Cavs and the Lakers were aggressively chasing him, but Kuminga and his camp stayed firm on what they wanted. Now, Cleveland looks like they’re backing away from Kuminga, believing he might not be worth the lengthy negotiations they were facing. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, “The Cavaliers appear to be prioritizing Peyton Watson now over Jonathan Kuminga as their Plan B wing option after missing out on LeBron James.” Cleveland’s even looking to offer Max Strus or Dennis Schröder alongside a future swap for Watson. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are apparently in a bind with apron issues, which probably complicates things on their end.
Lakers See Their Guy, Go Get Him
You think the Lakers weren’t paying attention to Cleveland’s pivot? Please. Los Angeles instantly ramped up their pursuit, becoming even more aggressive. Sidery posted that the Lakers’ sign-and-trade offer for Kuminga is sitting at about $45 million. They are ready to ship Vanderbilt and draft picks to the Hawks for Kuminga, who, by the way, would need to sign at least a three-year deal in any sign-and-trade agreement. The Lakers’ vision for him is clear: Kuminga as their starting power forward, lining up next to Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and Walker Kessler. Sidery also noted that with the Cavaliers chasing Watson, Kuminga is the Lakers’ “sole focus” to finish their offseason.
So, with Cleveland officially out of the picture, all eyes are on the Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks. Momentum is absolutely building for Kuminga to end up in Los Angeles, and a deal could come together sooner rather than later. The biggest hurdle right now is making sure the Hawks are satisfied with the trade package. Can the Lakers finally seal the deal for their top free agent target? We’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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