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The Jonathan Kuminga saga is entering its final act. The 23-year-old Congolese forward, seventh pick in the 2021 draft, is a free agent after an up-and-down season with the Atlanta Hawks. And with four months until the season resumes, his phone has never rung so much. According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, a "mutual attraction" exists between Kuminga and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Los Angeles Lakers, for their part, continue to push their chips in.
The market for wings has rarely been this thin on July 31. Kuminga knows it. His camp is seeking a contract between $14 and $18 million annually, a range that excludes mere contenders and leaves only franchises ready to invest long-term.
His camp is seeking a contract between $14 and $18 million annually, a range that excludes mere contenders and leaves only franchises ready to invest long-term.
Cleveland, the project that ticks all the boxes
The Cavaliers are coming off a painful summer. LeBron James chose Philadelphia, leaving an abysmal void in the roster and in the hearts of fans. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen form a young and competitive core, but a creator on the wing is missing — someone capable of putting the ball on the floor, attacking the rim, and defending three positions.
Kuminga fits that mold. In Atlanta, he posted improving averages despite irregular playing time and an ill-defined role. The raw numbers don't tell the whole story: his shooting percentage in the paint, his ability to draw fouls, and his defensive progress paint a picture of a player still raw but with a high ceiling. Kenny Atkinson, the Cavs' coach, has built his reputation on developing young wings. The argument is powerful.
The only obstacle: Cleveland must go through a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, which still holds the player's rights. The Hawks, in quiet rebuilding mode, demand a first-round pick in return — or a young player on an affordable contract. Talks have stalled on this point for ten days.
The Lakers lurking, but with what assets?
Los Angeles lost LeBron but hasn't given up on existing. Rob Pelinka, the general manager, sees Kuminga as a transitional piece between the James era and the future represented by Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. The problem is that the Lakers have almost no salary cap room left after absorbing several mid-level contracts this summer.
To attract Kuminga, they must convince Atlanta to accept a package of second-round picks and minimum-salary players. Even in a league where sign-and-trades are sometimes negotiated for a song, the Californian offer seems light. Yet, the mere fact that the Lakers' name remains in the conversation indicates that the Kuminga camp hasn't decided yet.
The precedent that worries
Kuminga has already burned a chance. In Golden State, his talent was obvious, but his inconsistency eventually wore out Steve Kerr. The Warriors traded him to Atlanta last January, a departure that looked as much like an admission of failure as a liberation. Since then, the player has repeated privately that he "understood what was expected of a professional."
Scouts who watched him this summer note a change in attitude: more work before practice, fewer off-court distractions, more honest listening to coaches. The question remains whether this maturation will survive the comfort of a guaranteed $50 or $60 million contract.
Kuminga is expected to make his decision before mid-August. The Cavaliers hold the lead, the Lakers hope for a turnaround, and a third team — Milwaukee or Sacramento, according to rumors — could emerge at the last moment. In a free agency that mostly saw stars leave in the first week, the Kuminga saga has become, almost by default, the last real suspense of the NBA summer.