The chase for Jonathan Kuminga has picked up another suitor, and the Sacramento Kings are now in the picture alongside the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
For more than a month, the Lakers and Cavs have been working to land the former Warriors NBA champion, but neither side has been able to close the gap. At one point, both teams were viewed as the frontrunners, and Cleveland made a renewed push last week by meeting with Kuminga and his representatives to work toward a deal.
“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,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
Los Angeles has also stayed aggressive. The Lakers have reportedly put an offer on the table in a sign-and-trade framework, with Sidery reporting, “The Lakers have offered Jonathan Kuminga a contract via sign-and-trade that would pay him around $45 million. Los Angeles is willing to send Jarred Vanderbilt alongside draft capital to the Hawks for Kuminga, who must sign at least a three-year deal in sign-and-trade agreements," Sidery posted.
But now Sacramento has entered the mix, and the Kings are trying to make their own pitch.
“The Kings are interested in signing Jonathan Kuminga, but only willing to offer the veteran’s minimum to avoid being hard capped, per Anthony V Slater. Sacramento has long coveted Kuminga, and would be able to offer him a large role, but he’s not interested at that salary figure,” Sidery wrote.
That gives Kuminga a different kind of choice. The Kings can’t match the money being discussed by the Lakers or Cavaliers, but they can offer something else: a bigger role. That wrinkle makes the situation more complicated for both Los Angeles and Cleveland.
The Lakers and Kings are already division rivals in the regular season, and now they could be battling for Kuminga off the court too. If Sacramento somehow wins out over Los Angeles and Cleveland, it would be a wild ending to a free agency saga that has already been full of twists.
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