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
@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.