Peyton Watson finally found a new home in free agency and that could be excellent news for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jonathan Kuminga is one step closer to being the next domino to fall at his positional group, and the Lakers are looking a whole lot more attractive after Wednesday night.
Shams Charania reported: "BREAKING: Cleveland, Denver and the Clippers have agreed on a trade sending Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers, Max Strus to LA, and an unprotected 2031 Cavs first-round pick and a 2032 Kings second-rounder to the Nuggets, sources tell ESPN."
Look at that offseason blockbuster and you will spot two teams that have been connected to the Kuminga sweepstakes. That would be the Clippers and the Cavaliers. Cleveland should be effectively removed after landing Watson, and the Clippers could be all but out of it, too.
That leaves the Lakers primarily competing with the Minnesota Timberwolves, based on the free agency intel to date. Between those two sides, Los Angeles has always been the more attractive destination for Kuminga. That could mean they finally land their guy in the near future.
All roads might lead to Los Angeles for Jonathan Kuminga in free agency
The argument for why the Lakers have the better situation for Kuminga is simple: the Timberwolves can offer a starting role and a one-year deal to reenter the market next offseason (when the free agency pool could be even more loaded). Los Angeles has a spot in their starting five available, too, but they can give the free agent forward solid financial compensation in the present.
This really should not be rocket science. The Lakers are the superior option to the Timberwolves.
Rob Pelinka and company should really only fear the circumstances of another team throwing themselves in the mix for Kuminga. If it is a head-to-head with Minnesota, the deck is stacked in their favor. One would hope JK and his agent understand as much in the coming days.
In Los Angeles, Kuminga would get to benefit from a starting gig and the laxed defensive coverage that playing with Luka Doncic would provide him. A potential three-year deal with the Lakers, which would be necessary for a sign-and-trade, should position him to reenter the market in 2029 and seek a massive payday right in the midst of his prime. Granted, the partnership would need to go well.
What more could he truly want?
The list of suitors for Kuminga grows smaller by the day. The top option at the top of it remains the same. It is still the Lakers.
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