The Lakers’ chase for Jonathan Kuminga is coming down to the wire, and Los Angeles appears to be sitting in the better spot.
Kuminga remains in the sign-and-trade mix as free agency slowly winds down, and the latest reporting points to the Lakers as the team with real momentum. NBA reporter Evan Sidery said talks involving Atlanta and Los Angeles are “picking up steam,” with the Hawks still unwilling to absorb Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract. To make a deal work, the Lakers would be looking for facilitators to help acquire Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht, while sending Atlanta draft capital.
For the Lakers, landing Kuminga would cap a long pursuit. They’ve been after him all offseason, and the feeling now is that he could be getting closer to Los Angeles by the day.
“Jonathan Kuminga landing with the Los Angeles Lakers seems inevitable at this point. On Tuesday, it appeared Kuminga had three suitors remaining in his free-agent sweepstakes: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers," New York Post's Valentina Martinez wrote.
That picture has narrowed even further. The Lakers are now viewed as the main threat to Minnesota for the 23-year-old NBA champion, and Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said Los Angeles may have the edge because Kuminga seems more inclined toward the Lakers.
“Comes down to Minnesota or Los Angeles,” Fischer said. “Kuminga, I think, has seemed to prefer going to the Lakers. They have the most opportunity to negotiate there,” Fischer said.
It would be a major get for Los Angeles after nearly two months of trying to make it happen. The team believes Kuminga could fit next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on offense, while also giving them the starting power forward they’ve been searching for all offseason.
Kuminga played last season on a $46 million contract, and the former NBA champion would have a chance to take a big leap if he lands with the Lakers. For a team looking to add talent and solve a major lineup need, that’s the kind of swing that can change the shape of the roster.
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