The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly willing to accept the Los Angeles Lakers’ sign-and-trade proposal for Jonathan Kuminga. According to The New York Post’s Khobi Price, there’s mutual interest between the Lakers and Kuminga.
In his report from Saturday, Price wrote that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with Kuminga a day after the Hawks declined the forward’s $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. However, Los Angeles is falling short on its offers for Kuminga, which, at present, would start at $10 million next season.
Amid this complication, Price reported that the Hawks are willing to execute a sign-and-trade with Los Angeles that would free up more space and increase the offer for Kuminga in his first year with the team.
“A source told the Post the Hawks are willing to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers around the framework of Kuminga going to L.A. and the Hawks receiving Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap – the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this summer,” he wrote. “Los Angeles also has three second-round picks (Wizards two picks and its own 2033 pick) available to trade.”
Jarred Vanderbilt will earn $12.4 million next season. The Lakers would have north of $20 million available to offer to Jonathan Kuminga in such a scenario. It would still be slightly lower than the $23.8 million he made last year, but it’s a much higher salary than what the Lakers can offer him outright in free agency without a trade.
Khobi Price added that the Lakers have reportedly been open to trading Vanderbilt and other players to improve their cap flexibility to upgrade the roster. Vanderbilt could be the first in line to depart, as he’s frequently fallen out of favor with coach JJ Redick due to his limitations on offense.
Vanderbilt also has one of the most overpaid contracts, and with only two years left, several teams wouldn’t mind absorbing his salary if the Lakers attach picks.
Cavaliers could compete with Lakers for Jonathan Kuminga: Report
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the other team reported to have interest in Jonathan Kuminga. The Cavaliers’ ultimate decision on going after Kuminga will depend on LeBron James. If James opts not to reunite with his first franchise for the second time, the Cavaliers may pivot to Kuminga and address their frontcourt holes.
“The Cavaliers also have strong interest in Kuminga, a source said,” Khobi Price wrote. “But the Cavaliers, whose head coach Kenny Atkinson coached Kuminga while Atkinson was an assistant coach with the Warriors from 2021-24, are also in the midst of the sweepstakes for LeBron James, who informed the Lakers last week he wouldn’t be returning to the franchise for his record-extending 24th NBA season.”
The Cavaliers can free up space by dealing the more tradeable contracts of Max Strus and Dennis Schroder. Strus and Schroder will earn a combined salary of $31.4 million next season. Cleveland can outbid the Lakers if they move Strus and Schroder, or sign-and-trade the duo.
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