Jonathan Kuminga Sign-and-Trade to Lakers Stalls Over Contract Terms Despite Rob Pelinka’s Push
The Lakers really want Jonathan Kuminga. Jonathan Kuminga wants a contract the Lakers cannot quite deliver. So here they sit.
Rob Pelinka has been personally calling Kuminga’s camp to push a sign-and-trade with the Warriors, according to reports. Los Angeles has offered a deal around $45 million in a sign-and-trade structure. That has not been enough to close it, and negotiations have stalled for weeks.
Kuminga is one of the more talented young wings on the market. He turns 23 later this year. He can score at all three levels, he defends multiple positions, and he has flashed superstar-level moments in his four years with the Warriors. He has also frustrated coaches with inconsistency, which is part of why he is on the market.
The Money Gap
Kuminga’s camp wanted a contract closer to $30 million per year. The Lakers offered less than that in a structure that made sense for their cap situation. The Warriors, who hold Kuminga’s rights, would need to sign him and then trade him. That process only works if all three sides agree on the money.
Cleveland has entered the picture and reportedly created some flexibility to pursue Kuminga themselves. That is bad news for the Lakers. If the Cavaliers can offer a competitive package, Kuminga’s leverage goes up and the Lakers might get squeezed out.
Los Angeles has been trying to add Jarred Vanderbilt plus draft capital in the trade package. That is a decent offer, but it is not the kind of pick-heavy return the Warriors would prefer. Golden State would rather move Kuminga for future first rounders than take back a veteran on a middling contract.
Why the Lakers Are Pushing So Hard
LeBron James is 40. The window to build a real team around him closes a little more each month. The Lakers need talent that can help right now, and they need it at a price they can afford under the second apron rules.
Kuminga fits the timeline for whatever comes after LeBron too. He is a young athletic wing who could easily be a starter on the next version of the Lakers. That kind of asset is hard to come by, and Pelinka is not going to give up easily.
The Lakers’ roster is in a weird spot. LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Luka Doncic (yes, that Luka trade) are the core. But the supporting cast has holes, especially on the wing. Kuminga would fill one of the biggest holes and add athletic upside to a lineup that could use it.
What the Warriors Want
Golden State has been in a soft rebuild for a while. The Curry-Green core is still there, but the front office is trying to reload with younger players and future picks. They would love to convert Kuminga into two firsts and a few useful pieces.
The Warriors have been patient. They know Kuminga’s market and they know teams like Cleveland and the Lakers are willing to pay for young wings. Time is on their side, though they cannot let this drag on forever either. Camp is coming, and having Kuminga still in restricted free agency is not a great look.
The Realistic Timeline
Something has to give in the next two weeks. If Cleveland puts together a real offer, the Warriors will probably take it and the Lakers get nothing. If the Lakers up their offer meaningfully, they might land him. If neither team moves, Kuminga signs his qualifying offer with Golden State and hits unrestricted free agency next summer.
That last outcome is a nightmare for the Warriors. They would essentially give up Kuminga for nothing next July. That is why they are still trying to make a deal happen even at a discount.
Pelinka’s phone calls suggest the Lakers are close. They are just not there yet. Every day this drags on makes it slightly less likely, but nobody is walking away yet. That is the state of this negotiation, and it is going to be one of the last big dominoes to fall this NBA offseason.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
