According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Atlanta Hawks do not want to take back Jarred Vanderbilt’s salary in a potential Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. “The Lakers and Hawks had discussions on a Kuminga sign-and-trade that would’ve involved Jarred Vanderbilt and a Los Angeles 2032 first-round pick swap, as Khobi Price of the California Post first reported,” Scotto wrote. “However, the Hawks have been resistant to taking on Vanderbilt’s $13.29 million salary for the 2027-28 season, which is a player option.”
Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent, so he could sign with LA regardless of a sign-and-trade, but not for the money he is likely looking for. And based on all the reporting, it sounds like Kuminga’s interest in the Lakers very much depends on whether or not he’ll be able to get paid.
Because if he just wanted to join the Lakers regardless of the money, he could sign a smaller deal any time he wanted. But he clearly wants to get paid, and if that's the case, he needs the Hawks to play ball.
Jonathan Kuminga clearly wants a payday before he signs
The Hawks declined Kuminga’s team option toward the start of the offseason, sending him into the world of unrestricted free agency. Now, he’s free to do whatever he wants.
However, if Kuminga wants to join the Lakers and still get paid, he would need the Hawks to cooperate on a sign-and-trade. But Atlanta doesn’t have to do anything it doesn’t want to do.
Right now, it seems like the Hawks have no interest in taking on any unnecessary long-term money. They don’t want Vanderbilt’s contract because his money extends into the 2027-28 season with a player option.
Meanwhile, Kuminga is left fishing for a payday with a team he would like to join. The Lakers don’t have the money to give him what he seemingly wants, so they would need a sign-and-trade to happen.
Again, if all Kuminga wanted was to join the Lakers, he could have done that right now. But it seems as though getting paid is just as important – or perhaps more important – to Kuminga than going to LA.
Adding Kuminga would be a great upside swing for the Lakers. He’s still young, and his athleticism would pair nicely alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
But they have to be careful not to give him a contract they will regret. Because right now, it seems as though Kuminga is waiting things out in order to get the money he knows he wants.
Atlanta just isn’t playing ball.
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