After stating in mid-July that he was “pretty confident” the Lakers weren’t interested in Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, Dan Woike of The Athletic confirms reporting from Marc Stein, writing that the Lakers appear more inclined to pursue an upgrade on the wing – including a player like Wiggins – in the wake of Luka Doncic‘s long-term commitment to the team. Doncic signed a three-year, maximum-salary extension with Los Angeles last month.
Although the Lakers seem more open to taking on contracts that run beyond the 2025/26 season in the right deal, they also may want to see how new additions like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia look this fall before they cash in any of their limited trade assets, Woike cautions.
The Lakers can currently only trade one future first-round pick, either their 2031 or 2032 selection.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Checking in on where things stand between Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area says the restricted free agent forward continues to show little interest in Golden State’s two-year, $45MM offer that includes a second-year team option and requires him to waive his right to veto a trade. In Poole’s view, Kuminga signing his $7.98MM qualifying offer remains the most likely outcome.
- An arbitrator has ruled that Derrick Jones Jr.‘s former agent, Aaron Turner, is entitled to his full 4% commission ($1.2MM) on the three-year, $30MM contract the veteran forward signed with the Clippers in 2024, per NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link). Jones made an agent change right around the time he entered free agency last summer.
- Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays several of the most notable comments that former Suns point guard Vasilije Micic made during a recent appearance on the X&O’s Chat (YouTube link), including Micic’s impressions of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, and his thoughts on why Phoenix fell well short of its expectations. “Why didn’t they succeed?” the Serbian guard said in his native language. “It was a bit of everything. Issues with the coach, issues with working together, which I don’t even know what it was.”
All the Warriors have to do is change 2/45 to 2/50 and turn that team option into a player one, and the deal gets done.
It’s the no trade rights that really matter to them. Clearly they intend to move him at the deadline as an expiring, and he doesn’t want to end up on some random rebuilding team.
I wish that were certain, but there’s also rumblings that Kuminga wants to be traded no matter what and will be sitting out until Dec 15 or whenever after until GSW trades him, no matter what his contract is. That would lead one to think he doesn’t care where he’s going, just as long as he gets major minutes.
I think he wants that no trade clause to ensure he doesn’t have to go to Milwaukee! Not that it’s certain warriors could Giannis or bucks would want himv! But he wants say on where he would spend the next year and a half of his career
> but there’s also rumblings that Kuminga wants to
> be traded no matter what and will be sitting out
>. until Dec 15
Interesting. Where did you hear that?
It surprises me, though, because he seems to have taken the position that being a good citizen will help, not hurt, his options
From between the ears of one Davey J. Why would Kuminga want to go somewhere without significant cap space or atleast a verbal agreement of making said cap space to accommodate him? There goes the traded to anywhere theory….
@Nrg82 its been literally posted on here. Grow up or I will mute you and never reply to you again. You don’t want that, do you?
You moved the goalposts here, we can all see it. Nothing you said had anything to do with my point. Knock off this targeted harassment. We all know you and NBA is OK are liking each others posts here too, its pathetic ganging up on someone for posting rumors on the rumors site. Pathetic.
@Davey J
“there’s also rumblings that Kuminga wants to be traded no matter what and will be sitting out until Dec 15 or whenever after until GSW trades him, no matter what his contract is.”
Lol, “rumblings” from who, random Warriors fans speculating on social media?
@NBA is OK
“rumblings” = rumors. Don’t fault me for your lack of places you read NBA rumors – that’s your skill issue, not mine.
Why are you so concerned with HATING rumors, posted on here, the RUMORS site, btw? Its comedic how much you get riled up by TRADE RUMORS. Brother, they are rumors, this is the place for them, calm down. Or is this more a “I am going to criticize every single thing you write even when it’s correct or valid to post here”? Like, can you not hate my comments or be snide or aggressive towards them? Can you not ignore them? Can you talk to me within TOS? No? In which case
/cursor moves over the MUTE button…
@daveyj, you may be right, but, IMO, he also requires right for trade veto in year 1. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be traded, only that he wants to be sure he goes to a team that will give him the right role.
Warriors FO continuing to botch one of the easiest RFA decisions of the past few years 🤣🤣
Orrrr its 5D chess moves by MDJ, knowing almost all teams are handcuffed this offseason, and Dec 15 and beyond is the best time to start doing major trades, as many teams outlooks will shift between Oct 15 and Dec 15?
@daveyj, this is sorta consistent with my take. There is so little money available to sign the 3 -4 free agents that MDJ is trying to get Kuminga’s camp to take some find of deferred or bac-end weighted deal.
I just can’t see the Warruors not trying…
How did they botch it? Kuminga turned down a contract in neighborhood of $125-$150 million. Then he had his worst shooting year. None of that is GS FO’s fault. Did he really expect a better offer? Kuminga is the one who screwed up.
I don’t get how taking the QO is going to help him. He is leaving money on the table. A mid season trade seems unlikely. Why would they trade for someone who will just be gone at the end of the season? Most players don’t like to discus contracts during the season. It is to much of a distraction. 2 seasons of having a contract issue hanging over year head will not do any wonders for the stats. He might have to many question marks hanging over his head.
Giddey’s signing probably doesn’t boost his chances either. Teams will look at that contract and not want to go above it.
Because just maybe the reported contract offered is full of S**t. Just like Dennis the menace laker contract was. Leaked by a warriors homer to save face. Plenty of teams will have space next off season and Kuminga will happily sign at $20-22 per. In which case Warriors get absolutely nothing. I also don’t believe his stock goes down if he hardly plays. Has shown enough and is young enough to be given a chance elsewhere. If anything not playing Kuminga if he signs the QO reflects more on Golden State.
If teams were that excited about him, why would they wait until next summer and more than likely lose out on him? Kinda dumb to do that. The Nets could have easily signed him. Why didn’t they? What makes you think he will sign for even less than he could have had last October?
What has he done that teams are so excited about? He is inconsistent. Why are teams turned on by that?
Nobody has cap space, we’ve been over this. Might get him without needing a sign and trade. Emphasis on trade or free agent.
Right now, the Nets are below their salary floor. That’s $20+ million below the first apron. They did have more before they traded for MPJ.
@Giants74 its because @nrg82 is here in bad faith and doesnt care about any facts or freality, he just comes in here to hate mindlessly.
@nrg82 – explain why everyone shouldnt mute you? You never engage in reality and just make up crud like you did here
“Because just maybe the reported contract offered is full of S**t. Just like Dennis the menace laker contract was. Leaked by a warriors homer to save face.” – this is a pure lie by you. It’s cope. You are arguing every single angle and don’t have a side you defend yourself. You literally just come here to get mad! Why? Brother, get a better hobby!!!
You are right. The nets desperately need young players with upside and shy away from signing him?
Rebuilding teams could have had him via sign and trade shipping serviceable Veterans and draft picks to GS and no one did?
Can all GM’s be Idiots at the same time?
He barely played in the Playoffs for a team that desperately needed athletic wings.
The Warriors desperately needed athletic wings during the regular season. That is why they traded for Butler. How do you think they made it to the playoffs.
@Nrg82 do you ever say anything non-violent or angry in here? You are so mad all the time. And then you crybully me for posting rumors on the rumors site. You need to relax.
He wants to leave. It’s over. You need to move on. Start thinking about what you can get back in a trade.
Warriors are signing Horford, Melton, Payton. They want Kuminga to sign QO.
It is pretty obvious a longtime ago that he was gone. Teams him offered anyone for Kuminga. Dario Saric!! You can’t be serious.
link to empiresportsmedia.com
This guy is an NBA center. All you need from him is rim protection and rebounding. For 12-15 mins a game. Horford and Green can his mentors. He gives Warriors what they need most. As soon as I trade Kuminga. The next day I would sign Moses. Oct 2 …..
Why would teams trade for Kuminga on October 1st knowing they will more than likely lose him? They have to would want a contract extension before they make that trade. Funny how no one come up with that contract.
Moses Brown is an NBA center who not in the NBA. Why is that?
@KnickAl
I saw that the Knicks signed Brogdon and Shamet. Both good moves IMO.
IMO, it’s funny to see Poole talking about Kuminga having “shown more interest” in signing the QO than the offered 2 year deal, based solely on his attempting to negotiate a better deal weeks ago, and concluding he’s going to sign it.
That appears to be just more messaging from Kuminga’s agent, since the Warriors don’t want that outcome.
@NBA is OK – yes, this is the type of analysis that does NOT get you muted. Agreed.
See @Nrg82, if @NBA is OK can make calm posts about the topic without getting angered, why can’t you?
Poole is not Kuminga’s agent nor does work for the Warriors.
Monte Poole is a Warriors insider.