Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency is starting to look like one of the more interesting dominoes still standing, and the Los Angeles Clippers have now been pulled into the mix.
Kuminga, 23, is drawing sign-and-trade attention from several teams, and the Clippers are among the clubs that have shown interest. Scotto reported, “Kuminga, 23, has also drawn sign-and-trade interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
As Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball, navigate his free agency, each interested team has its own unique profile and variables being weighed, such as his average annual salary, roster fit, and deal structure,” reported Scotto. “There is no specific dollar amount Kuminga is seeking that applies to all interested teams.”
For Los Angeles, the appeal is easy to see. The Clippers are in a transition period after the departures of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, and adding a young forward like Kuminga would give them another piece to work with. It wouldn’t suddenly turn them into a contender, but it would give them a skilled, flexible player they could either keep in the rotation or use as part of a larger move later.
The catch, of course, is that Kuminga’s market has been slow to move. He’s reportedly looking for about $25 million per year after the Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, and that price tag has made a number of teams pause. The current CBA has tightened the financial screws around the league, so even clubs that like Kuminga are weighing whether they can meet that number.
There’s also the basketball side of the equation. Last season, Kuminga played 36 games and averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.6% from the field and 34.6% from three. That’s the profile of a young wing with some upside, and in the right setting he could give a team a real spark.
Still, there’s hesitation beyond the dollars. The source of that concern goes back to his previous stops in Golden State and Atlanta.
With the Warriors in particular, Kuminga had trouble finding his place and clashed with head coach Steve Kerr before a dramatic and ugly exit. That history is part of why teams are thinking carefully before jumping in.
Kuminga, though, appears comfortable waiting. He believes he knows what he’s worth, and he wants a situation where he can play a meaningful role and compete in important games. The Clippers may check those boxes, but for now it’s still unclear how he views them.
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