As the Los Angeles Lakers look to round out their roster, their biggest need is a wing with size who can defend. The name that keeps coming up as a fit is Jonathan Kuminga, formerly of the Golden State Warriors and currently of the Atlanta Hawks.
Kuminga’s team option was declined, so he is a free agent and there appears to be mutual interest with him and the Lakers. According to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times, the Lakers are trying to land Kuminga for a contract of around two years and $20 million:
Jonathan Kuminga is a player the Lakers are after, according to people with knowledge of the situation who said L.A. is looking at a two-year, $20-million deal for Kuminga, the sort of athletic wing player the Lakers need to start at small forward.
The Lakers don’t currently have much salary cap space, so in order to clear enough room to offer Kuminga a contract of that nature, they would have to make a trade that clears salary. They can also kill two birds with one stone by turning it into a sign-and-trade with the Hawks where they unload salary and draft picks in exchange for Kuminga, which is something that is being discussed, per Aron Cohen of Lakers All Day Everyday:
The Lakers are trying to set up a sign-and-trade with Atlanta for Kuminga, a source tells me.
It’ll cost them a combo of Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and one of their second rounders.
Cleveland is also a team with interest in Kuminga.
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 7, 2026
Perhaps the Hawks would be interested in taking a flyer on players like Dalton Knecht and Jake LaRavia, who have some upside but also could potentially be on expiring deals. Jarred Vanderbilt, on the other hand, has two years and over $24 million left on his contract, so finding a taker there would be more difficult unless significant draft capital is involved.
The Lakers have three second-round picks and a first-round pick swap to dangle in trades, whether it be a sign-and-trade offer or just a standard deal to unload salary to open up room to sign Kuminga as a free agent. However they end up getting it done, it seems that Kuminga is L.A.’s top priority right now.
Lakers offer hasn’t been enticing enough for Jonathan Kuminga
According to recent reports, the Lakers are recruiting Kuminga in free agency, although their offer has not yet been enticing enough for him to take even with the significant role they can give him as a starting wing.
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