July 10: While it’s believed that the Lakers want to package Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round swap in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, the Hawks have been resistant to taking back Vanderbilt in that sort of deal, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), contradicting Price’s reporting (outlined below).
According to Fischer, Kuminga is seeking a more lucrative contract than the two-year, $20MM offer the Lakers initially put on the table, and there may be multi-team trade scenarios in play involving Vanderbilt that would allow Los Angeles to increase that offer. If that comes to pass, Vanderbilt would end up with a non-Atlanta team.
If Kuminga does leave the Hawks, it seems like to happen via sign-and-trade, Fischer adds. In that case, the free agent forward would have to receive at least a three-year contract, though only the first season would need to be fully guaranteed.
July 8: The Hawks would have interest in a sign-and-trade sending Jonathan Kuminga to the Lakers in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and a first-round pick swap with L.A. in 2032, a source tells Khobi Price of The California Post.
It’s the only way the Lakers can include a first-rounder in the deal after sending two of them, along with two swaps, to Utah in the Walker Kessler trade. L.A. also has three future second-rounders to offer.
The Lakers’ desire to add Kuminga is well known, but they are currently limited to a minimum-salary offer after remaking their roster via a flurry of moves. A sign-and-trade is their most realistic path toward giving Kuminga a larger contract, although he still may get better offers from other teams as an unrestricted free agent.
Reporting earlier in the week indicated that the Lakers were “looking at’ a potential two-year, $20MM offer for Kuminga, and Price confirms they’ve been willing to do an average annual salary in the range of $10MM. A sign-and-trade would require at least a three-year deal, though only the first season would need to be guaranteed.
Vanderbilt has two seasons remaining on the four-year, $48MM extension he signed in 2023. The veteran forward will make $12.4MM next season and holds a $13.3MM player option for 2027/28.
Multiple sources inform Price that the Lakers are willing to part with Vanderbilt and other players in their attempt to upgrade the current roster.
Price cites another source who confirms the Cavaliers‘ interest in Kuminga, who would reunite with head coach Kenny Atkinson, a former Golden State assistant, if he winds up in Cleveland. However, the Cavs’ pursuit of any free agents is on hold as they wait to hear where LeBron James will play next season.
Price notes that the Lakers are searching for wings with “size, athleticism, defense and youth,” adding that it’s not clear who the next target will be if they don’t land Kuminga. He states that they looked into Ziaire Williams after the Nets declined his $6.25MM team option for next season, and mentions Bruce Brown, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji as other available free agents.
L.A. has been linked to Mavericks forward P.J. Washington in the past, but Price hears that the team isn’t willing to take on the $88.8MM he’s owed over the next four seasons.
It’s a trip nothing is being said about Buddy Hield’s injury yet. Looked pretty serious to me & that was a couple days ago now. I swear if the Hawks chose JVando & Buddy over Kuminga that might be the worst move/series of related moves we’ve made since the Shelden Williams pick 20yrs ago. I certainly hope they dont go thru w this JK for JVando/pick swap deal. Vando would literally be more expensive than Kuminga in this situation smh. What are we doing here?
take on Vanderbilt’s trash contract for 2032 swap? Wow, paid Landale, Hield, and now this—-are they trying to piss off Jalen Johnson. It’s time to go for it, front office is overthinking this stuff. Weird offseason for hawks so far. Maybe Bonetemps can straighten things out lol
It is not time to go for it. Needed to trade for JB if you wanted any meaningful improvement. Caught the Knicks off guard and won 2 games in a first round series before getting destroyed, more likely to be a play-in team next year than a contender.
what are they waiting for? i’m aware that there a play-in team as currently constructed. is that the goal?
Go for what, the trash?
Haha, Kuminga can’t even get $10m. Way to bet on yourself and lose.
Trading Luka for Trae was pretty stupid.
Means absolutely nothing right now
Would Atlanta be better with Luka?
That was in the draft so nobody knew how good Luka or Trae was gonna be. The really stupid trade was the Luka to LA trade
Luka was a teenage kid when mvp of the Spanish and euroleague on way to winning both. Add he’s 6’7 and 230lb it’s a no brainer. Don’t need to deep dive just put the luka doncic name in that envelope.
Kuminga heading to the Lake Show. One of my favorite players. I hope it works out for him there.
kuminga is one of your favorites? eye of the beholer.
I’m tired of seeing this, when Kuminga officially becomes a Laker then post!
You know this is the Hoops Rumors site right? I get mad when they post actual transactions instead of rumors.
Another sign and trade
Kuminga is a good fit in LA imo. Plus he can get his 15 mill this way. I still wonder why Bucks or Nets aren’t trying to sign him.
Because he’s allergic to defense.
You should read his scouting reports. And actually watch him.
hawks fan – hard to coach guys who go rogue
Really ….. he played 16 gms for Hawks. Was already banged up. And was second best player in Knicks series. Playing both ways.
This trade makes no sense whatsoever for the Hawks – it would be the second head-scratcher trade they’ve done with the Lakers in the last half year.
Excuses are like Jared Vanderbilt. Nobody wants them, but someone’s trying to give them anyway
Excuses. Is who you are. Facts are for responsible adults to make responsible decisions. Anyone who talks about JKs defense. Is lacking
😂😂😂
Sure bruh
Try reading his scouting report. I doubt you watch him. GS never helped him.
Not 2nd best player in Knicks series.
In the past 50 years the Lakers had a better record than the Hawks in 39 of them, tied 1 year and worse only 10 years.
In the past 25 years the Lakers had a better record 20 out of the past 25 years.
The Lakers should jump at this. Plus, sign and trades must be at least 3 years long which also favors the Lakers (instead of the 2 years), and with sign and trade the Lakers get his bird rights which will help with the next contract if it Kuminga does well. Also, a team under the cap can take back $7.5M more back than they trade out, so that helps too.
They just got to make sure they get a reasonable salary for Kuminga. Pay a little more Sign a 3 year contract with the last year team option or at most straight 3 year contract with no option the last year.
2 nd and 3 td year can be non guaranteed i unfortunately but agree Jump at this-
If we can get year 2 guaranteed at 18 ish early bird can get us to around 31 for next contract
The Lakers would have his bird rights if it’s a sign and trade. Then don’t have to worry about early bird, etc.
The Lakers are going to be a problem in the West.
LA is already a problem for the west. Just ask Spencer Pratt…
Is Kuminga repped by the same folks that advised Shroder and Nerlens Noel?
There ya go, LeBron holding out on teams before he makes his decision. So glad he’s LeGone from LAL!
IOnce again lakers want other teams to do favors for them. Hey take this player but we will be cheap on who is being sent out. Send out carr if you want somebody to take a bad contract like Vando.
Jealousy is the root of all evil!!!
Nothing jealous. Just how does the Lakers get rid of payroll without giving up value in return? In Vando had a expiring contract but he has a second year on it. they traded all of their 1st round picks so Carr would be the cost. Next year deal is over $13 million. So why would a team take on that contract?
Supposedly the Hawks are cool with the pick swap, which seems crazy to me to take on Vando’s contract, but maybe the Hawks see some value in Vando and have major hubris in that they think they will be a lot better than the Lakers by then.
from the article it sounds like the sport writer is saying that is what the cost would be. I feel in the end Kuminga signs back with the hawks because its too hard for the lakers to drop payroll.
Not at all. An under the cap team can lose take back 175% of a traded contract if it’s under $10M, and if it’s more than $10M sent out they can take that amount plus $7.5M back.
So, the Lakers can send out Jaden Hardy’s $6M and take back $10.5M back (which may be why they were offering Kuminga $10M to start with). If they send out Vando’s $12.5M they can take back $20M. Why Kuminga is saying he wants that $20M if the Hawks take Vando.
The question is how are they going to send out Hardy and vando when they have nothing to send a team in trade? Neither one is worth taking back in trade when Hawks could just resign Kuminga for that amount.
The guy can still play lol. Hawks need a 3 n D wing. Plus Lakers are offering a pick. They don’t need to give Carr up. All the Warrior fans have posted nobody wants him. He’s asking for too much, Kuminga. And now you want them to pay more for him.just never stops with Kuminga ……. get over it.,
maybe try reading the article next time. kuminga camp wants more than a 2 year $20 million deal. All lakers are offering is 2nd round picks. hawks will need offense more than defense.
The Hawks supposedly only want the FRP swap for 2032 I believe.
Look it up. Vanderbilt is making 12.6 mill. Plus the picks its 15 mill. First report was 10 mill. You should read
expect another piece involved if this becomes reality
They said it was a first rd pick swap. And 2bd rd picks. Brinoit close to 15 mill. Search the Lakers.
The sign-and-trade is necessary because the Lakers’ initial free-agent offer to Kuminga (two years, $20 million) was rejected. Kuminga, an unrestricted free agent after Atlanta declined his team option, is seeking a larger payout and a longer-term contract.
When I watch Kuminga play, I think that he still has a lot of potential. (He is still 23, a week younger than Yaxel Lendeborg.) His defense is good, he grades out well on that end with EPM and RAPM. If he focused more on his defense I think he could be very valuable to a contending team.
And he finishes well. He’s got nice moves around the basket and his game in the lane is very efficient. But he’s really got no outside shot, and so he needs to be a lot more selective with the shots he takes. He could still learn to shoot threes maybe, but right now he is not even acceptable from the corner (35% career there).
If he is ready to be a role player, he could be a good fit with the Lakers. I know his chutzpa has hurt him in the past, but maybe he’s now ready to accept being a third option.
He will get a lot more open 3’s now with Luka and Austin. While GSW was a great passing team, the threes passes were going to someone else.
Even if he shoots at 35% 3s, but is a threat on the drive and is a plus defensive player he still will be great for the Lakers.
Kuminga got plenty of open threes in GS and Atlanta. His inconsistency keeps him below 35%.
I don’t see how/why that suddenly improves while playing for the lakers.
Hachimura started shooting 3s consistently well only in his 5th year after he moved to LAL. It’s not impossible.
His career high from three was when he was 23 on the Wizards in 20211-22, 44.7%
I know :) I also remember Rui knocking down some 3s in his 2nd season in that series against Philly.
But that was low volume and just a small part of what he was as a player. In that season you mention, he didn’t play in the first half, had some mental problems and basically took a vacation for half the season. Then returned and played about 40 games, attempting fewer than 3 3s per game. He didn’t really become a reliable shooter until his 5th season.
Kuminga also had 40-game stretches when he shot over 40% on 3s on low volume.
I’m not predicting that Kuminga is going to become a sniper. But it’s not impossible. And he doesn’t need to be a sniper, really. Siakam is not, but it’s a viable part of his arsenal, he does take 3s more willingly, and it’s a part of how he beats you. But his accuracy is only in the mid-30s from his 3rd season when he won MIP until now.
It’s not impossible to imagine that if Kuminga gets an expanded role and about 15 shots per game somewhere, 4 or 5 of those will be 3s, and he’ll be able to knock down 35-36-ish percent of those, so that defenders will have to respect his shot to an extent, and it’ll open opportunities to drive, etc.
I don’t think that he’ll get that role anywhere. But it’s not impossible.
Rui’s never shot even close to a high volume of threes. He avged 2.9 then and only 3.9 last season although with the big minutes the Lakers played him in the playoffs, he avgd 5.8/gm
Rui is the alltime leader in playoff 3 pt fg%, so comparing Kuminga to him is pretty ridiculous.
Not surprised an LA reporter floated out there the Hawks would be interested in acquiring Vanderbilt in a possible sign and trade. Nobody wants him lol.
This works.
Lakers would receive: P.J. Washington, Mouhamed Gueye
Hawks would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2032 1st pick swap via LAL, 2031 2nd round pick via LAL
Mavericks would receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Jake LaRavia
The Hawks don’t want Vanderbilt at all. Mo Gueye is better than Vanderbilt on a minimum deal. Hawks are only making a sign and trade happen if they improve
Not happening. Mavs neither need nor want JK. And they definitely don’t want to trade PJ for 2 more forwards
Lakers need a 3+D wing emphasis on the D but seem stuck on Kuminga. Lakers also need length at backup C or PF. So get Zaire Williams and Nick Richards for the same $10M/yr they are trying to convince Kuminga to take which is < 1/2 his ask. Lakers just need to make 1 or 2 other trades to open the roster spots. Surely they can trade LaRavia or another bench guy without waiting to trade Bronny to whichever team signs LeBron. So there’s going to be 2 or 3 more roster spots open, but quality guys like Williams and Richards may not be around much longer.
Kuminga thinks he’s a lot better than he is.
Kuminga stans think he’s a lot better than he is