The Lakers Are Circling Jonathan Kuminga. Should Golden State Actually Let Him Walk?
Jonathan Kuminga’s summer has not gone the way he hoped. The 22-year-old wing has been a restricted free agent since July, and the market for his services has been quieter than his camp expected. Now the Los Angeles Lakers are putting on the full-court press.
Lakers president Rob Pelinka has been personally calling Kuminga to pitch him on joining Luka Doncic and Bronny James in Los Angeles, per multiple reports. The Lakers have not yet made an offer big enough to jump on, but the interest is real and it is not going away.
Why the Warriors are stuck
Golden State has been in a strange spot with Kuminga for two years. The former No. 7 overall pick has flashed elite athleticism, physical tools that no other Warrior possesses, and the kind of two-way potential that makes coaches drool. He is also inconsistent, sometimes miscast in the Warriors system, and increasingly frustrated with his role.
Steve Kerr has never fully committed to Kuminga as a foundational piece. Draymond Green publicly clashed with him more than once. Kuminga’s agent has been telling anyone who will listen that his client wants a bigger role, more shots, and a fresh start.
The Warriors are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They cannot afford to lose Kuminga for nothing because they gave up a top-10 pick to draft him and let him develop. But they also cannot pay him the number his camp is asking, because that money is earmarked for Stephen Curry’s extension, which kicks in August 29.
The Lakers’ pitch
Los Angeles has a compelling story to tell. Luka Doncic is 27 and just entering his prime. The Lakers have a young second star in Austin Reaves. Bronny James is a household name attached to the franchise. And the team just lost LeBron James, meaning there are shots and touches available in a way that most teams cannot offer.
For a young wing looking for a bigger role, that pitch makes sense. Kuminga would be free to be the wing scorer he has always wanted to be. He would play alongside a superstar guard who elevates everybody’s efficiency. And he would live in Los Angeles, which is not a small detail for a 22-year-old with off-court aspirations.
The problem is the money. The Lakers can offer Kuminga a sign-and-trade or a real contract, but their cap situation is not exactly clean. Any move that brings him in has to send money out. The Warriors would have to be a willing partner.
What Kuminga is actually worth
This is the harder question. Kuminga is a 22-year-old wing with a career average around 15 points per game, real defensive tools, and an inconsistent shot. He is a young player with a lot of upside and a lot of question marks.
The most likely outcome, if reports are correct, is that Kuminga ends up somewhere on a deal way below what he thinks he is worth. That is life for restricted free agents in the modern NBA. Teams have all the leverage, and Kuminga’s leverage is running out fast because the calendar is unforgiving.
Golden State could match any offer he gets from another team. They could also work out a sign-and-trade if the return is right. What they cannot do is pay him top dollar and keep the roster intact around Curry, Butler, and Klay Thompson (if they somehow re-sign him too).
The most likely landing spot
Kuminga probably ends up staying in Golden State on a one-year qualifying offer or a modest multi-year deal. That is the outcome nobody wants but that keeps happening in restricted free agency. Once training camp opens, the leverage swings hard toward the team, and Kuminga will have to choose between playing on a smaller deal or sitting out and hurting his development.
If a trade does happen, the Lakers are the most aggressive suitor. But do not underestimate a sneaky sign-and-trade with Sacramento, Phoenix, or Chicago either. Any of those teams have the assets to make a deal work and the roster fit to give Kuminga real minutes.
Watch this space through the end of August. Kuminga’s next contract is going to define the rest of his career.
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.
