​San Francisco, California — December 25: Jonathan Kuminga, wearing number 00 for the Golden State Warriors, warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center in San Francisco. This scene unfolds on December 25, 2024, with Getty Images credited to Thearon W. Henderson. Earlier, in Los Angeles, California, on October 21, Kuminga’s presence was felt as he faced off against Luka Doncic, number 77 for the Lakers, driving to the basket past Kuminga during a 119-109 Warriors victory in the season opener at Crypto.com Arena. That moment, captured by photographer Harry How, underscores the ongoing interest in Kuminga from multiple teams, as noted in Getty reports.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly increasing their efforts to sign Kuminga as an unrestricted free agent to bolster their roster. With veteran center Kevon Looney recently joining, the Lakers currently hold the maximum 15 players on standard contracts. To avoid the impression that Kuminga is being left behind, sources indicate that several teams are indeed pursuing the talented forward.
According to California-based journalist Khobi Price for The Athletic’s California Post, the Lakers have already met with Kuminga’s representatives and are enhancing their bid despite cap constraints. Price reports that the Lakers’ offer has reportedly been raised to an average annual value around $10 million. This figure trails the salaries of peers such as Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who are earning approximately $13.9 million and $13 million respectively, and it also falls short of expectations given the Lakers’ prior expressed interest in Kuminga, who they pursued as a restricted free agent last summer, according to an unnamed source.
The Lakers have moved swiftly to assemble pieces, adding Walker Kessler, Grimes, Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton alongside Looney. This rapid offseason activity has left little cap space available, and the team still faces the challenge of filling wing positions following Rui Hachimura’s departure.
In San Francisco, the December 25 gathering again highlighted Kuminga’s role, as he prepared for the Warriors against the Lakers at Chase Center. The dynamic around his future remains a focal point for NBA observers, with Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, and head coach JJ Redick reportedly meeting with Kuminga shortly after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, aiming to secure him a starting role within the Lakers’ system. While the prospect of a starting role under Luka Dončić would be enticing, Kuminga would likely seek full value in any deal, making a straightforward signing a potential move for better visibility and search engine clarity.