The Los Angeles Lakers are a natural fit for Jonathan Kuminga, seeing as he'd slide right into a starting wing spot. Reports this offseason have suggested that the Lakers and Kuminga aren't seeing eye to eye on a contract number. That's likely the main reason that Kuminga isn't a Laker yet.
There's no guarantee that Kuminga will land in LA, but it's becoming clearer by the day that he's not returning to the Atlanta Hawks. With the season nine weeks away, one has to assume that Kuminga's 2026-27 team will be sorted out sooner rather than later. The Lakers are still a player in his sweepstakes.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus recently put together a complex four-team trade idea that would send Kuminga to the purple and gold. Here's how Pincus' trade shakes out:
Lakers receive | Hawks receive | Bulls receive | Nets receive |
|---|---|---|---|
Jonathan Kuminga (via sign-and-trade from Atlanta) | 2027 Knicks second-round pick (from Brooklyn), 2032 first-round pick swap and 2032 second-round pick (from Lakers), plus a $18 million trade exception | Dalton Knecht and $2 million (from Lakers) | Jaden Hardy (from Lakers), Mouhamed Gueye (from Hawks), a 2027 second-round pick (31-55 range from Hawks), the lowest 2031 second-round pick (from Bulls), a 2033 Wizards second-round pick (from Lakers), and $4 million (from Lakers) |
You got all that? Pincus also surmised that Kuminga could sign a four-year, $77.4 million contract with the Lake Show (with a player option in the final year).
New Jonathan Kuminga trade idea makes some sense for Lakers
I'm a supporter of this deal for the Lakers, although it's not a home run trade.
In the most basic sense, the Lakers would be filling a need at wing by acquiring Kuminga, so that's a win. Kuminga's athleticism would pair well with Luka Doncic, and Kuminga has an underrated level of NBA experience from his multiple years spent with the more than competent Golden State Warriors organization.
I don't love the idea of giving up Knecht, as I've written in other pieces, and I also don't love the idea of giving up Hardy, who was really solid alongside Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks. In terms of the draft capital that the Lakers are sending out in this trade, it's kind of a moot point in my eyes. They already have next to zero draft capital ... why not just have zero?
The downside of Jonathan Kuminga
I'm not a huge fan of Kuminga's basketball character. I say "basketball character" to separate his actual character from what I'm talking about. I've never met Jonathan Kuminga; he's probably a great guy. But when I say "basketball character", I'm talking about the ability to be a selfless teammate, play a role that's asked of you, and, in general, be a willing part of something bigger than yourself.
From a lot of things I've read and observed about Kuminga in Golden State, he didn't have optimal basketball character there. This could just be because he was eager to prove himself and get paid, etc. I'm not going to hold that against him at 23 years old. But it's definitely something I would be thinking about if I were the Lakers.
At the end of the day, I'd do this trade, but I don't love it. Knecht and Hardy are both good players. I think if Kuminga worked out in LA, it would be because he stays healthy and embraces his role. That's not a guarantee. If he ended up having issues with JJ Redick, you'd look back and feel bad about giving up Hardy, in particular, if you are Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
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