​He’s still out there as a free agent, unsigned and ready, an athletic forward capable of contributing in a variety of ways, and the NBA is waiting for him to decide which team he will sign with this summer. Not LeBron James, though he fits that mold in many eyes, but Jonathan Kuminga. Reports have urged that the Los Angeles Lakers remain in pursuit of Kuminga. If the Lakers were to acquire him, it would likely require a sign-and-trade, and the central questions become what price the Atlanta Hawks, Kuminga’s most recent club, will ask for and what kind of contract Kuminga and his representatives will seek. Yet with Kuminga, the more persistent inquiry has always been about his intangibles. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, one NBA assistant coach warned that landing Kuminga in Los Angeles might not yield substantial gains. “He is athletic, he has talent, and he is still only 23,” the coach said. “But we saw him a lot before he entered the league and early in his career. And now, if you watch him, it is hard to identify one area where he has appreciably improved. Rebounding? Maybe a touch better, a little more consistent there. Shooting? No. Defense? No. Ballhandling, playmaking, any of that—there isn’t a clear standout progression you can point to.” “They wanted him to carve out a role and excel in it, and that simply didn’t happen. You hope somewhere along the line that message finally sinks in, because the talent is undeniable.” Kuminga entered the NBA as the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft. For years, observers have pegged him as a potential All-Star with the ability to function as a game-changing two-way wing, yet he has not demonstrated the meaningful strides needed to reach that ceiling. His 3-point shooting has consistently lagged, and while he possesses the tools to become a solid defender, his guard-ability at that end has fluctuated for reasons that aren’t always clear.
Last season, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who can be a demanding presence, benched Kuminga. The Warriors eventually traded him to the Hawks, and though he flashed occasional solid performances with Atlanta, the Hawks haven’t shown a strong willingness to retain him. The Lakers, meanwhile, are still seeking a starting two-way wing or forward who can help drive their lineup. If Kuminga were to join them, there is a possibility his presence could push him toward addressing some of his consistency issues and becoming a more impactful player on both ends. But at present, such a signing seems unlikely. This piece originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA assistant coach gives Lakers a warning about Jonathan Kuminga, underscoring the uncertainties surrounding his fit and development.