The Lakers still have unfinished business as they try to shape a roster that fits Luka Doncic, and one possible path would send Dalton Knecht out in a sign-and-trade for former Warriors champion forward Jonathan Kuminga.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Tuesday that Los Angeles has stayed in contact with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, and has nudged its offer upward in recent days. Slater also wrote that the Lakers have made clear to Kuminga how important he would be to what they are building around Doncic, including a likely starting role and the kind of opportunity that could matter for his career.
“They haven't jumped at it, believing there are still avenues to better deals as the offseason dominoes continue to fall. That could include sign-and-trade opportunities involving the (Atlanta) Hawks. Atlanta remains open to facilitating a move that would help Kuminga keep his Bird rights and get a contract he desires, but Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh would need to be incentivized to make such a move.”
Slater added that the Lakers could use several contracts to help build a larger offer, naming Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and Jaden Hardy. He also noted that Los Angeles would likely need to include at least one of its remaining assets - three second-round picks or a 2032 first-round pick swap - to get a deal across the line.
From the Lakers’ perspective, the appeal is obvious. Kuminga is a 6-foot-7 wing who brings energy and has the kind of upside that could fit next to Doncic if Los Angeles puts him in the right spot. The idea is simple: give Doncic another athletic perimeter option and see if the environment unlocks more.
For Knecht, the logic runs the other way. Staying in Los Angeles beyond the 2025-26 season does not appear to offer much for his NBA growth, which is why a move this summer could make sense for him. He may not walk into an ideal situation with Atlanta in this scenario, but the long-term development picture would look better than it does now.
That’s why the framework has the feel of a classic basketball trade-off. The Lakers would be betting on a player who could become the kind of contributor many expected when he entered the league in 2021, while Knecht would get a fresh start somewhere else. Kuminga, meanwhile, has already shown he can score 12.2 points per game, and a move to Los Angeles could be the kind of reset that helps him take the next step.
For now, though, nothing has materialized.
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The problem is that a backup plan can get expensive in a hurry. Atlanta still wants to re-sign Kuminga, but it also has to weigh what it would take to pry Watson loose, and that likely means a meaningful price in draft capital or other assets. For a team trying to keep its options open, the question is whether the insurance policy ends up costing too much to justify. [Read more 🡒]
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Hawks Fans Are Feeling Vindicated As Trae Trade Takes Another Turn
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For Atlanta fans, the intrigue now shifts to what the Wizards do with the rest of their books. Youngs deal is already a major commitment, and Washington could be forced to juggle that alongside other expensive decisions that may leave less room for the younger players it wants to keep and develop. The trade was always going to be judged over time, but the pressure on the Wizards to make the numbers work is arriving fast. [Read more 🡒]