Jonathan Kuminga's market has reached the part where interest and price are no longer the same thing.
The 23-year-old forward is reportedly looking for a free-agent salary above $20 million annually, with the Lakers still interested in making him their starting small forward if the deal lands on their terms. The Cavaliers are also described as a finalist, keeping pressure on Los Angeles while the process drags deeper into the offseason.
The Athletic's Jake Fischer framed the Lakers' stance carefully. Los Angeles would still like to sign Kuminga, but only if he is willing to accept a contract structure that works for the team. That is the catch. Kuminga is not just searching for a landing spot; he is trying to protect his value after averaging 12 points, five rebounds and two assists during the 2025-26 season.
The reported sign-and-trade path adds another layer. Kuminga is said to prefer that route from Atlanta because of the financial upside, but any framework would have to satisfy the Hawks, the receiving team and the player. If the Lakers cannot find common ground there, the fit on paper may not matter much.
Cleveland's presence makes the situation harder to slow-play. The Cavaliers recently added Mario Hezonja, but they have not gone away on Kuminga, according to the report. That leaves the Lakers in a familiar spot: interested, short on clean leverage and trying to avoid paying a wing like a core piece before he has fully proved he is one. It also keeps Atlanta central to the conversation, because a sign-and-trade cannot happen on the Lakers' timeline alone.
For now, Kuminga remains available only in theory. The number he wants is clear. The team willing to build the right contract around it is still the unanswered part.
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