​Lakers, Cavs, Hawks, and Bucks emerge as potential landing spots for Jonathan Kuminga, a 46-million-dollar NBA champion whose name has been floated in the 2026 free-agent chatter, according to The Sporting News. The piece notes that Kuminga, who spent the early part of the 2025 season with the Golden State Warriors before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, remains a tantalizing two-way wing at 23 years old after five NBA seasons. Despite a rocky Warriors exit and a wobbly stint in Atlanta that led to the Hawks declining his $24 million team option, Kuminga continues to draw interest from teams seeking a dynamic defender with athletic upside as they build for 2026.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report that the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Bucks have shown interest in Kuminga, with a potential return to Atlanta also on the table. The Lakers, having allocated much of their cap space this offseason and only modestly freed via Deandre Ayton’s departure, could add Kuminga on a favorable deal and bolster their wing rotation if he agrees to a lower-dollar contract with a prominent team. For the Cavaliers, bolstering wing depth is a priority, and Kuminga could supply scoring punch while potentially lifting his defensive ceiling in Cleveland. The Bucks, in rebuild mode, represent a logical landing spot for a player seeking extended playing time and an opportunity to revive his career, possibly on a one-year deal.
A return to the Hawks remains plausible but increasingly unlikely given Atlanta’s already crowded wing corps, featuring All-Defensive guard Dyson Daniels, Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, All-Star Jalen Johnson, and recently acquired NBA Champion Aaron Wiggins from OKC. Kuminga would likely struggle for consistent minutes in Atlanta’s rotation, making a fresh start elsewhere a more viable path for him. As Kuminga’s free agency unfolds, the market remains robust, and the 2026 campaign could be pivotal for the former No. 7 overall pick.