We know who on the Lakers is pushing for a trade for Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
While there have been rumors around the NBA that a blockbuster deal will be difficult to make before the February 5 trade deadline, Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga is “asking to leave” his current team, according to veteran NBA insider Shams Charania.
advertise
January 15th is the day Kuminga becomes eligible for trade, and it seems only a matter of time before the 23-year-old player starts over with a new team.
So which teams may be involved in trading the former No. 7 pick in 2021?
Lakers’ Rob Pelinka interested in Jonathan Kuminga as athletic wing next to Luka Doncic
Teams like the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as possible suitors for Kuminga, but Los Angeles Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is also a fan of the Warriors forward.
“Sources say Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is a fan of Kuminga and likes the idea of him being an athletic wing on a team led by Luka Doncic,” NBC Sports’ Dalton Johnson wrote. “The Warriors are aware of the similarities between the Lakers and Kuminga, although it’s unclear how likely a mid-season move between the two teams is.
advertise
Los Angeles has less than $1 million in space from the first pad, so a deal involving multiple Lakers players would have to be done to avoid the salary threshold.
Given that Kuminga will make $22.5 million this season, the Lakers appear to be an unlikely suitor. The only realistic scenario for a deal getting done between the two teams is if Golden State is willing to take on multiple veterans while pairing them with draft capital.
However, the Lakers will have to swallow a huge pill, which brings uncertainty to Kuminga’s game. He has not participated in an NBA game since December 18. In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 24.8 minutes per game, 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
It seems unlikely, but the Lakers are a team that stands out in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes.
advertise