The race for Jonathan Kuminga remains active, with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers pursuing the 23-year-old forward through a sign-and-trade agreement, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Speaking on ESPN, Charania reported that any move for Kuminga “will likely be a sign-and-trade,” meaning both teams would need the Atlanta Hawks’ cooperation while also reaching contract terms with the restricted free agent.
“Whatever deal could happen will likely be a sign-and-trade,” Charania said. “So that’s where both the Lakers and Cavs would need the Hawks to work with them on a Kuminga deal. They would also have to get Kuminga on the same page with them all in a potential deal.”
The latest update comes after Cleveland emerged as a serious contender. According to Evan Sidery, the Cavaliers have already discussed a potential sign-and-trade framework with Atlanta.
Cleveland finished 52-30 last season, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, before defeating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in seven games during the conference semifinals. The Cavaliers’ season ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After being traded from the Golden State Warriors to Atlanta during the 2025-26 season, Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range in 16 games with the Hawks.
Although that was a limited sample, Kuminga has already shown a significantly higher offensive ceiling. During the 2023-24 season with Golden State, he averaged 16.1 points while shooting 52.9% from the field, establishing himself as one of the Warriors’ most efficient interior scorers and transition finishers. Across five NBA seasons, he owns career averages of 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds.
The Lakers remain firmly in the mix as well. Los Angeles has pursued Kuminga throughout the offseason after reshaping its roster around Luka Doncic following LeBron James’ departure. The organization has already added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle but has continued searching for another athletic two-way forward.
Previous reporting from Khobi Price indicated Atlanta is open to a sign-and-trade framework involving Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick swap. Vanderbilt’s $12.4 million salary for the 2026-27 season makes him a logical piece for salary matching, while the Lakers would be able to offer Kuminga a substantially larger contract through a sign-and-trade than with their available cap space.
However, the landscape may have shifted again. NBA insider Brett Siegel recently reported that Cleveland’s acquisition of Mario Hezonja has effectively left the Lakers as Kuminga’s primary suitor, with Los Angeles expected to continue negotiations around a package centered on Vanderbilt.
Atlanta declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option earlier this offseason, making a sign-and-trade the most realistic avenue for his next contract under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. Any such deal would require Kuminga to sign a contract of at least three seasons, excluding option years, with the first season fully guaranteed.
