The Clippers have joined the growing list of teams with sign-and-trade interest in Jonathan Kuminga, and they may be better equipped than most to make a deal work.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that Los Angeles is among the clubs monitoring the unrestricted free agent forward, alongside previously reported suitors such as the Lakers, Cavaliers and Bucks. But Kuminga and agent Aaron Turner are not locked into one target number. Instead, they’re evaluating each possible landing spot on its own terms, with fit and deal structure both part of the equation.
That matters because not every interested team can simply absorb Kuminga. Some would need to send out salary to complete a sign-and-trade, and that’s not an ideal setup for Atlanta, which already has a crowded roster. Scotto noted that the Lakers and Hawks discussed a framework involving Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick swap, but Atlanta does not want to take on the $13.3MM Vanderbilt is owed in 2027/28.
The Clippers, though, have a cleaner path. They hold a $17MM trade exception created earlier this month when they sent John Collins to Detroit, and they’re operating well below the luxury tax line. That gives them more flexibility than some of the other teams in the mix.
Even so, the timing may not be right just yet. Scotto explains that the Clippers’ front office is hesitant to make major roster moves while waiting for the Kawhi Leonard trade agreement with the Raptors to be resolved. That uncertainty is also slowing down their interest in trying to work out a new deal with restricted free agent guard Bennedict Mathurin.
If the Leonard deal is completed and the Clippers end up with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, they would be at 14 players on standard contracts. At that point, it’s unclear whether they would try to keep pursuing both Mathurin and Kuminga or narrow their focus to one. Scotto also says multiple teams have shown sign-and-trade interest in Mathurin.
Atlanta remains part of the Kuminga picture, too. League sources told HoopsHype it’s still possible he could re-sign with the Hawks on a one-plus-one contract, even though they currently have 17 players on standard contracts. Buddy Hield is still a trade candidate, Devin Carter’s spot looks less secure after the addition of Ryan Nembhard, and the team’s plan for Mouhamed Gueye is uncertain as he recovers from foot surgery and is expected to miss part of the season.
Cleveland is also keeping an eye on Kuminga while it waits on LeBron James’ decision, according to Scotto. If the Cavaliers need to clear money, Max Strus and Dennis Schröder are still being mentioned as possible trade candidates. Charlotte has been linked to Schröder, with Scotto pointing out that Hornets basketball operations chief Jeff Peterson and the veteran guard were both in Atlanta from 2013-18.
Scotto also raised the possibility that the Lakers might have to send out Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy instead of Vanderbilt to land Kuminga. Atlanta may not be interested in either player, but both could be more attractive to a third team because their cap hits are smaller than Vanderbilt’s and neither has guaranteed money beyond 2026/27.
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