The Lakers have spent much of the offseason trying to track down a starting-caliber forward, and Jonathan Kuminga keeps sitting at the center of the conversation. They still haven’t found a clean path to him, but a four-team trade framework could finally give them the 23-year-old they view as a long-term piece.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report laid out the proposal involving the Lakers, Hawks, Bulls and Nets. In that scenario, Los Angeles lands Kuminga without having to give up a major haul, while the rest of the deal gets spread across three other teams.
Here is how the trade would break down:
Atlanta Hawks receive: 2027 New York Knicks second-round pick (via Nets), 2032 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick swap, 2032 Los Angeles Lakers second-round pick, $18 million trade exception (Jonathan Kuminga)
Chicago Bulls receive: Dalton Knecht, $2 million (via Lakers)
Brooklyn Nets receive: Jaden Hardy, Mouhamed Gueye, 2027 Atlanta Hawks second-round pick, 2031 Chicago Bulls second-round pick, 2033 Washington Wizards second-round pick (via Lakers), $4 million (from Lakers)
For the Lakers, the appeal is straightforward. They’d be turning two players who may not have reliable minutes into a potential long-term starter, and they would not need to waive anyone in the process.
Dalton Knecht or Bronny James had been the names most often mentioned in that kind of move, but this setup avoids that problem. It also helps Los Angeles save money.
Kuminga’s numbers last season weren’t eye-popping - 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists, with shooting splits of 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three - but the athleticism and upside still make him a tempting target. That’s why the Lakers have spent the summer looking for a sign-and-trade route, and why talks with the Hawks in a direct two-team deal have reportedly gone nowhere.
There’s also been reporting that Kuminga may not be pleased with the Lakers’ contract offer, which could be one reason the process has dragged on.
Los Angeles has also been connected to P.J. Washington, and Lakers insider Jovan Buha said he could have been the better option.
Buha also criticized the Lakers for not going all out for him. But Washington’s four-year, $90 million extension creates a problem for the Lakers, who are trying to protect their long-term flexibility.
That’s where Kuminga remains the target. In this proposal, the Lakers would give up Knecht and Jaden Hardy, but the payoff would be getting the player they want without sacrificing one of their new additions.
Atlanta would walk away with a collection of future value: two second-round picks, a first-round pick swap and the $18 million trade exception. The Hawks passed on Kuminga’s $23.4 million team option, apparently not seeing enough from him in the second half of the season after acquiring him from the Warriors to justify that commitment. They would also part with Mouhamed Gueye, whose numbers have dipped each year, though he is on an expiring contract and could hit free agency next season.
Chicago’s piece of the deal is Dalton Knecht and $2 million. Knecht averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds last season while shooting 45% from the field and 34.2% from deep.
His stock has dropped sharply since his rookie season, and with the Lakers’ rotation crowded, there isn’t much of a path to consistent minutes. In Chicago, though, he could get a real opportunity under a new coaching staff and try to build a role.
Brooklyn would collect Jaden Hardy, Mouhamed Gueye, three second-round picks and $4 million from the Lakers. Hardy averaged 9.2 points and 1.2 rebounds between the Mavericks and the Spurs, shooting 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from three.
He’s on a three-year, $18 million deal and is seen as having more upside than Knecht. Gueye, meanwhile, averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 45.2% from the field for the Hawks, and could get another chance with the Nets.
For Los Angeles, the bigger picture is still the starting lineup. The roster already has plenty of complementary pieces, but the final starter spots remain the issue.
Kuminga would solve one of those openings immediately, even if his inconsistent perimeter shooting doesn’t answer every question. The Lakers would be betting that playing next to Doncic can unlock more of his scoring and overall ceiling.
It’s a complicated deal, and it would take a lot of cooperation to pull off. But if the Lakers can turn Knecht, Hardy, a first-round pick swap and a second-round pick into Kuminga without touching their new additions, that’s the kind of gamble worth serious consideration.
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