The Lakers are still working the phones, but the path they choose could say a lot about how they want to finish this offseason. Jonathan Kuminga has been one of their top targets from the start, yet the price tag is getting uncomfortable fast.
NBA reporter Evan Sidery said Kuminga is asking for more than $20 million per year in free agency and would prefer a sign-and-trade from the Hawks rather than walking away outright because of the financial implications. Sidery also said the Cavaliers and Lakers are the finalists for Kuminga.
That’s where things get tricky for Los Angeles. The team has salary cap constraints to deal with, even after already putting an offer on the table.
According to Sidery, the Lakers’ sign-and-trade proposal would pay Kuminga around $45 million, with Jarred Vanderbilt and draft capital going to the Hawks. Sidery added that Kuminga would have to sign at least a three-year deal in any sign-and-trade arrangement.
If that route gets too expensive or too complicated, Los Angeles has another wing option on the board: Max Strus. The Cavaliers sharpshooter is reportedly available, and the Lakers have been linked to him as a more manageable fallback.
Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden wrote that the Cavaliers are open to moving Strus as they look to create the financial flexibility needed to make an addition of their own. Ogden also noted there is a realistic path for the Lakers to land him, calling out Strus’ postseason experience and two-way value.
From a basketball fit standpoint, Strus makes a lot of sense. He’d give the Lakers another dependable floor spacer, and playing next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would likely create a steady stream of open looks. Just as important, it would cost Los Angeles far less than a Kuminga deal.
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Donovan Mitchell Gives Cavs A New Edge After LeBrons Rejection
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The backdrop here is bigger than one decision, because James camp has long carried real weight in how teams think about their moves. The article also points to the trade of Darius Garland as part of the changing landscape around the roster, leaving Cleveland in a spot where the future feels less about chasing an old reunion and more about building around the player who is already here. Mitchells response to that shift could end up telling the story of the Cavs next step. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Gave Cavaliers Fans A Feel Good Offseason Moment
Donovan Mitchell gave Cavaliers fans a rare offseason dose of good news this week, tying the knot with R&B singer Coco Jones in a private ceremony on Aug. 1. The celebration brought together family, friends and a handful of notable guests, turning what has been a closely watched relationship into a milestone moment for one of Clevelands biggest stars.
Mitchell and Jones had been together since 2023, and their engagement became public in July 2024, so the wedding was hardly a surprise to people who had followed the couples story. Still, it was the kind of upbeat personal headline that travels fast around a fan base, especially when it involves a franchise cornerstone whose life off the court has drawn attention well beyond basketball circles. [Read more 🡒]