​The Los Angeles Lakers remain interested in free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, and a recent report from Khobi Price of the California Post suggests Kuminga himself also desires to join the Lakers. Yet the numbers don’t appear to align for either side at the moment. The Lakers are believed to prefer a two-year deal worth around $20 million for Kuminga. To create the necessary cap space, they could move a couple of players, such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, without taking back salary, or they could pursue a sign-and-trade with Kuminga’s most recent NBA team, the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he finished the season.
Nevertheless, Kuminga’s target may exceed what the Lakers are willing or able to offer. During a Las Vegas livestream tied to the NBA’s marquee summer league, insider Jake Fischer stated that Kuminga and his representation are seeking more than the roughly $25 million he earned from Golden State last year. Fischer suggested that such a figure is likely not feasible for the Lakers, and perhaps not realistic for Kuminga either: “Quite frankly, I find it difficult to imagine he’s going to find that number on this marketplace.” Fellow insider Marc Stein added that the Lakers could still have a shot at the 23-year-old if they can land him around their preferred price point, though he noted the current reality of cap space. “If he can get 20 over two at this point in the summer, given where’s the other cap space?” Stein asked. “There’s no cap space left anywhere, really.”
Kuminga would bring both promise and questions to the table. His outside shooting from three remains a concern, and some evaluators question his intangibles. Yet he can generate points, finish strongly in transition, and brings the potential to be a high-level defender. He also has playoff pedigree, having played for the Golden State Warriors team that won the NBA Championship in 2022—a background that could be valuable to a Lakers squad that has grown noticeably younger in recent years. In five NBA seasons, Kuminga has posted career averages of 12.5 points on 50.2% shooting, along with 4.2 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per game.
As the summer progresses, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether Kuminga’s market evolves into an opportunity that aligns with both his ambitions and the Lakers’ cap framework. With the team reportedly aiming for a relatively modest two-year, $20 million deal, the question becomes whether Kuminga’s reported expectations can be bridged, either through a straightforward contract, a sign-and-trade arrangement, or a savvy maneuver that preserves the Lakers’ flexibility for additional moves. The story also underscores the broader calculus of a Lakers franchise balancing youthful upside, immediate roster needs, and the financial constraints that shape a post-Carmelo era in Los Angeles. This discussion originated from LeBron Wire’s coverage of insiders weighing Kuminga’s value and market, a narrative that continues to develop as teams navigate the summer’s influential free-agent market and trading opportunities.