The Lakers have spent the offseason chasing Jonathan Kuminga, but the path to landing him looks messier by the day. Los Angeles sees the young wing as a fit next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, yet the deal has not come together, and the price tag keeps climbing.
That’s the core problem. Kuminga has built a reputation as a tough negotiation, and this summer has only reinforced it.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said, “The Lakers could've signed him to a 2 year, $20M deal. He was not interested in that.
I've heard he's been looking for closer to $20M AAV... There's a gap,”
The numbers make the situation even clearer. NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted, “Jonathan Kuminga is demanding a salary in free agency exceeding $20 million annually, per The Athletic.
Kuminga prefers a sign-and-trade from the Hawks over leaving outright, simply due to the added financial implications. The Cavaliers and Lakers are the finalists for Kuminga,”
With Kuminga becoming harder to land and the Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly gaining traction, Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Ward says the Lakers should pivot. His suggested target is Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson.
“With the pursuit of Kuminga seemingly getting more and more complicated each day, the Lakers should head in another direction, with Cameron Johnson of the Denver Nuggets potentially there for the taking,” Ward wrote.
Johnson would give Los Angeles another wing who can impact both ends of the floor, and he’d also bring veteran presence to the room. Denver could be willing to take back an expiring contract like Jarred Vanderbilt’s or Dalton Knecht’s in a move like this.
There’s no denying the financial commitment. Johnson is on a $94 million contract with Denver, but the deal is expiring, which gives the Lakers some room if the fit doesn’t click.
He also brings a playoff résumé. Johnson reached the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, and that kind of postseason experience would matter for a Lakers team trying to stay in the mix at the top level.
In Other News...
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The Nuggets decision to match Oklahoma Citys two-year, $12 million offer sheet for Spencer Jones did more than keep a useful young wing in Denver. It also tightened the screws on a roster already dealing with the realities of the new CBA, and the financial hit is not small. By bringing Jones back, Denvers luxury tax bill jumps from $36 million to $68 million, a reminder that even a relatively modest restricted free agent move can ripple through the rest of the summer.
Peyton Watson is the next name hanging over all of it. He is seeking a substantial payday, reportedly around $28 million per year, and Denvers cap picture now makes any path forward more complicated. The Nuggets still have to sort out whether a deal can be reached, whether a trade becomes the cleaner route, or whether Watsons situation drags deeper into the offseason with the kind of leverage that can reshape a teams books in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Suddenly Linked To A Big Name Bench Scoring Gamble
The Nuggets search for another scoring option off the bench has taken an unexpected turn, with ESPNs Shams Charania reporting that Denver is among the teams showing interest in DeMar DeRozan. The veteran wing was waived by Sacramento earlier this offseason and remains one of the more notable names still sitting on the free agent market, which naturally makes him a tempting possibility for a club looking to add proven offense without reshaping the roster.
For Denver, any path to a deal would almost certainly have to make sense on a veteran minimum contract, a familiar kind of swing for a team already operating deep into the tax and above the second apron. DeRozan would bring a different look as a potential bench scorer, though the Nuggets broader needs still point toward more guard play, athleticism and ball-handling, leaving this as the kind of rumor that feels useful but not necessarily clean. [Read more 🡒]