The Lakers need wings. That’s not exactly a hot take. But the latest rumor out of Atlanta and Los Angeles suggests they’re actually trying to do something about it, and the name on the table is Jonathan Kuminga.
According to reports from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer on Bleacher Report, the Lakers and Hawks have been talking about a sign-and-trade that would send Kuminga to L.A. with Jarred Vanderbilt going the other way. On paper it makes sense. Kuminga is 22, athletic, switchable on defense, and would give Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves some badly needed length on the perimeter. Vanderbilt has struggled to stay healthy and has fallen out of J.J. Redick’s rotation when he is available, partly because his offense just isn’t there.
So what’s the holdup?
Stein said the Hawks have shown resistance to taking on Vanderbilt’s contract. And Fischer added that he hasn’t gotten the sense the Lakers are actively shopping Vanderbilt either. Which is a little weird, right? If you’re L.A. and you can swap a guy who barely plays for a 22-year-old who averaged 16 points per game for Golden State before getting traded, why wouldn’t you?
Maybe the Lakers think Vanderbilt’s defense is still valuable in the right matchup. Maybe they’re worried about what else they’d have to attach to make the money work. Or maybe they just don’t want to look desperate. Whatever the reason, the talks are happening but nobody’s calling it close.
Kuminga’s situation in Atlanta was complicated
He was part of the Jimmy Butler trade that sent him from the Warriors to the Hawks, and his time in Atlanta was uneven. Some nights he looked like a future star. Other nights he looked lost. The Hawks have a lot of young guys already and they need to figure out what they’re doing with Trae Young’s timeline. Adding a multiyear commitment to Kuminga might not be their priority unless they’re clearing space or getting picks back.
Fischer noted that if the Lakers deal doesn’t happen, Kuminga has other options on the table including a potential return to Atlanta. So it’s not like he’s stuck in limbo. But for a guy who has shown flashes of being a real two-way factor, you’d think there would be more urgency from someone.
The Lakers have been quiet for most of the offseason. They made the Doncic trade, obviously, but since then it’s been mostly small moves. If they really want to compete in a West that includes Denver, Minnesota, and maybe a healthy Memphis team, they need more than one or two guys who can guard on the perimeter. Kuminga fits that description. Vanderbilt theoretically does too, but only if he can stay on the court.
For now, this is just another rumor in a league full of them. But the fact that the Lakers and Hawks are actually talking about it means someone in L.A. is thinking beyond next week. And that alone is worth watching.
Leave a Comment