Interest in Jonathan Kuminga came with optimism of dumping Jarred Vanderbilt's unfavorable contract for the Los Angeles Lakers. Two years remaining at around $25.7 million is an undesirable number for a player who barely figures into the Lakers' plans. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, a sign-and-trade for Kuminga may not be the means through which they rid themselves of that money.
Initially, it made a ton of sense. Vanderbilt is owed $12.4 million in 2026-27, making that figure an excellent starting point for getting Kuminga a salary figure around $15 million per year with the Lakers. There are just a few problems with that.
For one, the Atlanta Hawks have no interest in taking on Vanderbilt's money. That much has been repeatedly reported on the subject. Why would they? The Hawks still need trim their roster down to 15. They do not have room for another player, let alone one that is on a bad financial deal.
If the Lakers wanted to use Vanderbilt's contract in the outgoing package of this deal, they would need a third team to emerge with willingness to absorb that money for draft capital. Unsurprisingly, to this point, no one has. If Los Angeles wants to see Kuminga in purple and gold, they may have to look at other options to accomplish that goal.
Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade including Jarred Vanderbilt is now wishful thinking
Teams have gotten stingy since the NBA CBA and the second apron started weighing heavily on franchises around the league. Look at the Denver Nuggets letting Peyton Watson go for next to nothing as a great example of that. Every bit of money matters.
In a league watching their pockets that closely, $12.4 million for an end of bench guy is a lot. That is especially true when the Lakers are limited in the draft capital they can send out to entice a suitor on the idea of absorbing that money.
Vanderbilt might be easier to trade next offseason as an expiring deal. One would imagine he picks up his player option that is worth close to $13.3 million. The two years left may genuinely be a sizable holdup.
So, how do the Lakers still get Kuminga?
NBA cap guru Yossi Gozlan suggested that two of three players from the pool of Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht would be a much more likely and doable outgoing package. Fair enough. For one reason or another, all of them would be more attractive to rival teams.
The issue here should not be whether the Lakers can get their guy in Kuminga. They should still be the frontrunners in that sweepstakes. It just might not be a scenario of killing two birds with one stone, and also getting off Vanderbilt's contract.
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