The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly pursuing unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, with Kuminga himself appearing open to joining the team. However, negotiations have stalled as the Lakers' current offer is significantly lower than Kuminga's side is seeking. The Lakers' latest proposal would see Kuminga earn an average annual salary of approximately $10 million, a figure that falls short of the expectations for a player projected to be a starting wing.
This valuation is particularly scrutinized when compared to recent deals the Lakers have finalized. Quentin Grimes secured a four-year, $60 million contract, and Sandro Mamukelashvili received a four-year, $52 million deal. Both players are projected to earn at least $13 million next season, even if Kuminga were to join the Lakers and potentially take on a reserve role.
The financial landscape for the Lakers presents a significant hurdle. The team has already allocated over $52 million in cap space this offseason to secure players including Grimes, Mamukelashvili, Walker Kessler ($130 million over four years), Collin Sexton ($19 million over two years), and Kevon Looney ($3.9 million for one year). Further complicating matters are the pending official signings of Sexton and Looney, and the anticipated re-signing of Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal. To offer Kuminga a deal at his desired salary, even before factoring in other commitments, the Lakers would need to shed more than $10 million in salary. Once Sexton and Looney's deals are finalized, they would need to clear approximately $20.8 million to offer Kuminga $10 million per season, a sum considered insufficient to land the 23-year-old forward.
A sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks has emerged as the primary avenue for the Lakers to acquire Kuminga. Reports suggest the Hawks are amenable to a deal that would send Kuminga to Los Angeles in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers' 2032 first-round pick swap, which is the team's only available first-round pick trade asset this summer. The Lakers also possess three second-round picks that could be included.
Under a sign-and-trade agreement, Kuminga's contract would need to span at least three or four seasons, with the first season fully guaranteed. This structure would permit the Lakers to offer Kuminga a higher salary and retain his Bird Rights without compromising their existing roster depth. If this sign-and-trade framework remains available beyond Thursday, it is advised that the Lakers proceed with it.
Vanderbilt, who has two years and $25.7 million remaining on his contract, has been identified as a player the Lakers are willing to trade to enhance roster flexibility. Sources indicate Vanderbilt has not consistently been a top-nine rotation player when the Lakers' roster is healthy, and Kuminga is considered a more dynamic player. The pick swap, while a cost, is viewed as a manageable price of doing business, especially if the Lakers anticipate outperforming the Hawks in the future with Luka Doncic on the roster.
In a sign-and-trade scenario involving Vanderbilt and the pick swap, the Lakers could offer Kuminga an annual salary of around $21.5 million for the 2026-27 season, keeping them below the first apron threshold. This salary range is comparable to players like Kyle Kuzma, Dillon Brooks, Christian Braun, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Norman Powell, and Miles Bridges. However, Kuminga's youth, athleticism, and skill set suggest a higher upside than most players in that salary bracket, making a three- or four-year deal in the $16-19 million range a potentially sound investment. Players such as Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, and Patrick Williams fall within this salary range, and Kuminga is seen as a superior talent with greater long-term potential, particularly when playing alongside Doncic and Reaves. Securing Kuminga would elevate the Lakers' offseason from successful to overwhelmingly so, without necessitating an excessive financial outlay.