The Cavaliers are running out of time to settle on a move that could reshape their wing rotation, and Jonathan Kuminga has emerged as the clearest fit if they decide to go that route.
Cleveland has been searching for more athleticism on the wing for years, and Kuminga checks that box in a way few available forwards do. He can line up at both the three and the four, though this roster would likely get the most out of him at power forward. The Cavs also have some history here: Kenny Atkinson was on the Warriors’ staff during Kuminga’s first three seasons in Golden State, and Cleveland even brought him in for a pre-draft workout in 2021.
The money is the sticking point. Kuminga reportedly wants $20-25 million a year, but that number is not expected to hold.
He will likely need to come down on his price and bet on a bigger payday later. For Cleveland, landing him would mean a sign-and-trade, and that probably means giving up either Max Strus or Dennis Schroder.
Both are veteran voices, but Kuminga brings a higher ceiling than either one.
There’s also a basketball case that makes sense. Kuminga posted a mini resurgence with the Hawks last season, putting up 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game in a reduced role.
That kind of usage may be exactly where he fits best. His strongest year with the Warriors also came when Atkinson was part of the staff, and Atkinson’s reputation for player development only adds to the appeal.
Kuminga’s playoff struggles against the Knicks showed how messy things can get when the fit isn’t clean. The Hawks’ lack of size and shooting forced awkward lineup combinations. Cleveland would give him a better environment, with more size and more shooting around him.
For the Cavs, Kuminga would bring scoring and slashing off the bench, with the possibility of starting some games if needed. He would still need to improve as a shooter to truly fit next to the core four, but the athleticism and upside are hard to ignore. Cleveland needs that kind of jolt in its rotation, and if it wants Kuminga, it has to move now.
In Other News...
Cavs Fans May Be Headed For Another Broadcast Shakeup
Cavaliers fans could be looking at another shift in how they watch the team next season, with DAZN reportedly nearing exclusive local broadcast rights for Cleveland and four other NBA clubs. The move would give the streaming platform a new foothold in the American local sports market and could put the Cavs on a different television and streaming setup than the one fans have grown used to.
The arrangement is expected to be short-term, with some deals likely lasting only a season or carrying mutual opt-outs after next year, which makes the whole setup feel more like a bridge than a destination. It also fits into the NBAs broader push toward a centralized local streaming platform later in the decade, but for now the immediate question is how quickly Clevelands viewing habits could change if the agreement gets finalized. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Still Have A Plan B But It Comes With A Catch
The Cavaliers still have work to do as they sort through the final pieces of their roster, and the search has already taken them into some familiar summer territory. Cleveland is trying to land EuroLeague forward Mario Hezonja while keeping one eye on bigger names, with two roster spots still open and James Harden expected to occupy one of them if everything falls into place.
But the real complication is the same one that has shadowed the Cavs offseason plans from the start: money. Cleveland has also shown interest in DeMar DeRozan, Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga, yet the luxury tax makes it hard to chase the kind of contract those players could command. Talks with Kumingas camp are ongoing as the Cavs try to see whether there is a path that fits both the players value and their financial limits. [Read more 🡒]