New Lakers Rumors Update: Jonathan Kuminga Contract Offer, Hawks Sign-And-Trade Buzz

The Los Angeles Lakers and Jonathan Kuminga have mutual interest this summer, though there is a gulf in how the two sides see his value.

According to Khobi Price of the California Post, "The Lakers have improved their offers to Kuminga up to a deal that would include an average annual salary around $10 million—which is less than the salaries of Grimes ($13.9 million) and Mamukelashvili ($13 million).  And less than what was expected in light of how the Lakers expressed they saw Kuminga, who the Lakers pursued as a restricted free agent last summer, according to a source."

One potential workaround could be a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Per Price, "A source told the Post the Hawks are willing to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers around the framework of Kuminga going to L.A. and the Hawks receiving Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers' 2032 first-round pick swap—the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this summer. Los Angeles also has three second-round picks available to trade."

That wouldn't be the cheapest price to pay, though Price noted that the Lakers have reportedly expressed a willingness to move Vanderbilt this summer and met with him after the Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option.

But the Lakers have had a busy offseason, agreeing to a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, trading Deandre Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy, signing Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Kevon Looney and re-signing Austin Reaves. All of that while bidding adieu to free agent LeBron James.

Adding Kuminga to the fray would finalize what has been an aggressive reimagining of the roster around Luka Dončić. A starting 5 of Dončić, Reaves, Kuminga, either Vanderbilt or Mamukelashvili (depending on whether a sign-and-trade happens) and Kessler would have some juice.

Enough juice to compete with Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the Western Conference? Debatable. But it would certainly surround Dončić with a more complementary supporting cast.

Kuminga fits into that calculus. While he isn't the best shooter (33.2 percent from three for his career), his length and athleticism would upgrade the Lakers on the wing.

If the two sides can agree on the money—or put together a sign-and-trade—his addition would make sense.