New Lakers Rumors on Jonathan Kuminga Contract, Sign-and-Trade Buzz Amid Cavs Link

The Los Angeles Lakers were once rumored to be interested in unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, but it now sounds like they're turning their attention elsewhere.

The Athletic's Dan Woike reported that "it appears that momentum has stalled with the sides far apart on terms and L.A. not overly motivated to push significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios" for Kuminga.

Earlier this month, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that the Lakers "still hope to land" Kuminga after he became a free agent when the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option. League sources told Slater that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with Kuminga virtually and "pitched him on a vision of being a high-minutes wing next to Luka Doncic in a spacious on-court environment conducive to Kuminga's skill set."

However, Los Angeles hasn't been alone in its interest in Kuminga. Woike reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been "the team most often connected to Kuminga other than the Lakers."

While there's still ground to make up in negotiations, the Lakers could revisit their pursuit of Kuminga later this summer.

"He appears to be the biggest upside play left on the table, and could re-emerge as a target if his market remains tepid," Woike stated.