Does Jonathan Kuminga Actually Make Sense for the Los Angeles Lakers?

On Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers made news by trading for Peyton Watson, effectively taking themselves out of the mix for Jonathan Kuminga.

According to reporting, that means the Los Angeles Lakers are now one of the two remaining suitors (along with the Minnesota Timberwolves) for the soon-to-be-24-year-old forward.

While L.A. could use an infusion of size and athleticism from Kuminga, it's fair to wonder whether he's worth what it might cost to land him.

He certainly won't want to take a pay cut, but the lack of spending power left around the NBA severely limits his options.

Will Price Be a Problem?

The Lakers can only offer Kuminga a minimum salary in free agency. A sign-and-trade may be his only viable path to any new team, since the Hawks can sign him to a deal starting at 120 percent of last season's $23.8 million salary.

At that price—and given that Atlanta would need sweeteners (like a young talent or draft assets)—the path feels a little less viable for the Lakers.

Los Angeles can get to around $18 million in tradable salary with Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, but Kuminga hasn't proven worth the depth a two-for-one deal would cost.

Where The Gamble Pays Off

With averages of 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, Kuminga has been a solid, though unspectacular producer during his five seasons. He has a career 33.1 three-point percentage and has barely above-average scoring efficiency. He doesn't pass enough, either.

In fact, two teams have already voluntarily removed themselves from the Kuminga business (Golden State traded him, and Atlanta declined his 2026-27 team option). He'd be far from a lock for the Lakers' starting five.

But while Kuminga is still a roll of the dice, at least to some degree, that doesn't mean he wouldn't be worth it for the right price.

As we get deeper into this offseason, it should become clear to Kuminga and his representation that he simply won't command the payday they want. You'd think that might happen sooner rather than later, considering they had to go through this same dance last summer.

Regardless of the time frame, that realization has to come eventually.

When it does, L.A. may be able to orchestrate a sign-and-trade with the Hawks that starts Kuminga's next salary around the range of Vanderbilt's $12.4 million. Atlanta would still need a pick swap (or maybe a second-rounder or two), and there's certainly risk involved there. But that risk is a lot easier to take on when you're paying Kuminga like a reserve.

How Kuminga Fits with Lakers

Though there are real concerns with his game, like the inconsistent shooting and lack of ancillary contributions, Kuminga has more upside than the 27-year-old garbage man Vanderbilt. And he's never shared the floor with a playmaker like Luka Dončić.

Again, Kuminga could very well come off the bench for L.A., but some of his minutes would certainly overlap with Luka's. In those lineups, while defenders are focused on Dončić and Austin Reaves (assuming he's on too), Kuminga could feast on the open looks created by those two inside.

One aspect of his potential that's never been properly emphasized is what Kuminga can be as a play finisher around the rim. He's spent far too many possessions trying to show off as a ball-handler and from-scratch scorer. He should be spending far more possessions as a cutter and lob finisher.

That shift would almost certainly take place with Luka. And at the right price, Kuminga wouldn't be the only one benefiting here.

Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton at least bring some defensive effort, but both are a little undersized for their positions. Kuminga hasn't exactly proved himself to be a lockdown defender in the NBA, but he's big, athletic and at least has more potential for versatility on that end than anyone currently on L.A.'s roster.

With the right, focused offensive role, buoyed by Luka and Reaves, Kuminga could be convinced to expend a little more on the less glamorous side of the court.

There's obviously a lot of "ifs, ands, buts" and other qualifications there. Really, that's true of this entire breakdown. But that's a product of the situation Kuminga has created for himself.

Ultimately, he's only worth it for the Lakers if he arrives in a reasonable deal.

But on the bright side for Kuminga, taking that reasonable deal now could put him in the best spot to earn more money later.