The Lakers have spent the offseason chasing Jonathan Kuminga, but the path to landing him looks messier by the day. Los Angeles sees the young wing as a fit next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, yet the deal has not come together, and the price tag keeps climbing.
That’s the core problem. Kuminga has built a reputation as a tough negotiation, and this summer has only reinforced it.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said, “The Lakers could've signed him to a 2 year, $20M deal. He was not interested in that.
I've heard he's been looking for closer to $20M AAV... There's a gap,”
The numbers make the situation even clearer. NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted, “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,”
With Kuminga becoming harder to land and the Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly gaining traction, Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Ward says the Lakers should pivot. His suggested target is Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson.
“With the pursuit of Kuminga seemingly getting more and more complicated each day, the Lakers should head in another direction, with Cameron Johnson of the Denver Nuggets potentially there for the taking,” Ward wrote.
Johnson would give Los Angeles another wing who can impact both ends of the floor, and he’d also bring veteran presence to the room. Denver could be willing to take back an expiring contract like Jarred Vanderbilt’s or Dalton Knecht’s in a move like this.
There’s no denying the financial commitment. Johnson is on a $94 million contract with Denver, but the deal is expiring, which gives the Lakers some room if the fit doesn’t click.
He also brings a playoff résumé. Johnson reached the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, and that kind of postseason experience would matter for a Lakers team trying to stay in the mix at the top level.
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For a group that is trying to move past last seasons disappointment, the message from the frontcourt additions was as important as the transactions themselves. Los Angeles has added several other pieces around them, but the bigs are the clearest sign the Lakers want more size, more versatility and a harder edge when the games matter most, even if the full shape of the rotation is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Latest Wing Move May Have Cost Them A Long-Chased Target
Jonathan Kumingas free-agent market has narrowed in a hurry, and the Lakers are still right in the middle of it. With Cleveland making a wing addition and the price tag on Kuminga climbing past $20 million per year, the pool of realistic bidders has thinned enough that Los Angeles now looks like one of the few teams left with a path to get serious about him.
For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious: Kuminga brings a young, athletic wing option to a roster that can always use more size and versatility on the perimeter. The challenge is fitting a deal together that works for both sides, especially with the market moving and other teams reshaping their plans around the same player. What happens next may come down to whether the Lakers are willing to keep pushing while the rest of the field keeps backing away. [Read more 🡒]