Overview
- Reporting Wednesday shows mutual interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers and that team officials, including Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick, have met with the free agent.
- With the Hawks declining Kuminga’s option and his camp seeking roughly $25 million per year, Los Angeles lacks straight cap room to sign him and has explored sign-and-trade options.
- Analysis and reporting have proposed moving Dalton Knecht as a primary outgoing piece in a sign-and-trade because his rookie-scale $4.2 million salary helps match costs.
- A specific three-team framework circulated Wednesday would send Jarred Vanderbilt, Knecht, Bronny James and Jake LaRavia to Cleveland, route Max Strus to Atlanta, and bring Kuminga to the Lakers via sign-and-trade.
- No deal has been reported and multiple teams remain in the mix, so the next steps to watch are whether L.A. agrees to part with young pieces or adds another team to clear roster and salary space.