The Cavaliers have spent a good chunk of free agency trying to land Jonathan Kuminga, but the process has dragged long enough that Cleveland may be ready to pivot.
Kuminga initially sounded eager about the chance to join the Cavaliers, yet his contract demands have slowed everything down. NBA reporter Evan Sidery reported that “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," NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.
Cleveland still kept working on the situation. The team even met with Kuminga to talk through a possible agreement, according to Sidery: “The Cavaliers will meet with Jonathan Kuminga about working towards finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon, per Chris Fedor.
Cleveland is a main finalist for Kuminga's services alongside the Lakers. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually," Sidery wrote.
But with the deal taking so long, the Cavaliers have reportedly started looking elsewhere. Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek suggested Cleveland should turn its attention to Russell Westbrook instead.
“Westbrook would be a type of offensive insurance for all three of them, but especially the Cavaliers. With Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, they don't need him to play heavy minutes. Instead, he can provide a spark when the offense stalls and work in pick-and-pops with Evan Mobley,” Polacek wrote.
Westbrook is in the later part of his career, but he could still bring veteran depth and some needed playmaking. He has made roughly $349 million in contracts over the course of his career, and he would give Cleveland a more proven short-term option.
For a Cavaliers team still trying to move past the long Kuminga pursuit, Westbrook could offer a cleaner path forward. He would add a veteran who understands high-level competition and give Cleveland a chance to shift its focus to the season ahead.
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