Following the Los Angeles Lakers' fiery start to free agency, the biggest story was the franchise's ties to Jonathan Kuminga. For many, Kuminga felt like the last infinity stone in Rob Pelinka’s offseason gauntlet. That was before he ultimately decided to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves instead.
With the way Kuminga’s contract is structured with the Timberwolves, he could become a free agent again next offseason. Yossi Gozlan pointed this out on a recent episode of the Third Apron podcast, suggesting it could allow the Lakers to take another run at Kuminga next offseason.
That is a horrible idea.
Kuminga, along with his agent Aaron Turner, have burnt that bridge with the Lakers. Pelinka would be pathetic to once again put all his eggs in the basket of such a mediocre player.
The Jonathan Kuminga door is closed for the Lakers
That may sound harsh, and in the past I have been for LA pursuing Kuminga. That was before he wasted their time this offseason and has acted like he’s some elite player too good for the Lakers.
This is a player whose agent claimed he was the best player on the Atlanta Hawks after they traded for him at last year's deadline. Why would you want to invite a headache and delusional person like that anywhere near a team you’re trying to build into a title winner?
For the record, Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 stocks (steals plus blocks) with the Hawks in his 16 games. But yeah, he was totally the best player on the team during that stretch. Give me a break.
This was the second straight summer Kuminga struggled to get a contract he felt fit his self-perceived value. If he was so good, people would be lining up around the block to sign the 6-foot-7 forward, but they weren’t. Teams weren’t even lining up to trade for him last season when he was on the trade block.
I’m all for believing in yourself and having self-confidence, but this guy's ego is nuts.
The final straw was him saying he wanted to join a “winning culture” at his opening press conference with the Wolves. JJ Redick has delivered 50-plus-win seasons in each of his first two years with so-so rosters, and they have Luka Doncic in the prime of his career. That screams winning.
Kuminga would’ve been great with LA. Next to Luka, he could have thrived sitting in the dunker spot and being a stopper from the point of attack, as this team needed a starting forward who could bring that. But the headache and the back-and-forth isn’t worth it for a player of his caliber. The Lakers don’t struggle to attract players ever, and with Luka here, recruiting talent is somehow even easier.
Going back to him next summer would be like shooting your shot with someone who continues to lead you on and then, when you want to be serious, acts completely different. Trust me, I’m in the single life now and learned very quickly that it’s not worth it, bro.
Just like there’s plenty of fish in the sea, there will be plenty of other forward options in free agency next summer who can give LA what Kuminga can.
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