Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency remains unresolved, but former Los Angeles Lakers center Mychal Thompson believes the 23-year-old forward has an ideal opportunity waiting in Los Angeles.
Speaking on ESPN Los Angeles, Thompson made a direct public pitch for Kuminga to join the Lakers, arguing that the franchise offers the best platform for the athletic forward to revive his career.
“I wish I had Jonathan Kuminga’s phone number… He needs to sign with the Lakers,” Thompson said, per Robert Marvi of LeBron Wire. “Talk about a great opportunity for him. He’d come in as a starter… Play on a high-profile team like the Lakers. Everybody around the league is gonna see you. He could run the floor. He can go out and get alley-oop dunks from Luka Doncic. This will set him up for his future if he ends up signing. I don’t know what’s taken him so long.”
Thompson’s comments come as Los Angeles continues exploring ways to acquire Kuminga despite limited salary cap flexibility. A traditional free-agent signing would be difficult, making a sign-and-trade the Lakers’ most realistic path.
According to Khobi Price of the California Post, the Atlanta Hawks are willing to help facilitate a deal that would send Kuminga to Los Angeles. One reported framework would have the Lakers send Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick swap to Atlanta.
NBA sign-and-trade rules would require Kuminga’s new contract to run at least three seasons, excluding option years, with the first season fully guaranteed. That mechanism would also allow him to earn significantly more than Los Angeles could offer through its remaining cap space.
Vanderbilt has two years and $25.7 million remaining on the four-year, $48 million extension he signed in 2023. He is scheduled to earn $12.4 million in 2026-27 and holds a $13.3 million player option for the following season. The Lakers have reportedly been open to moving the defensive forward as they seek greater roster flexibility.
Los Angeles has deliberately kept one roster spot available throughout the offseason. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the organization views that opening as a key component of its remaining offseason plans, with Kuminga among its primary targets.
The Lakers have already reshaped their roster after LeBron James’ departure, adding Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili around Doncic. Even after those moves, the front office is still searching for an athletic two-way wing capable of defending multiple positions while contributing in transition.
Kuminga fits that profile. After Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option, he entered free agency following a season in which he averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 34.6% from three across 16 games with the Hawks after arriving in a midseason trade from the Golden State Warriors.
For his career, Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds over five NBA seasons. His most productive campaign came with Golden State in 2023-24, when he posted 16.1 points per game while shooting 52.9% from the field.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times previously reported that the Lakers examined a shorter-term offer in the range of two years and $20 million, but creating enough cap room for a larger contract remains difficult without additional transactions.
A sign-and-trade therefore appears to be Los Angeles’ clearest avenue to land Kuminga. Thompson believes the basketball fit is obvious, pointing to the opportunity to start alongside Doncic and rebuild the value of a player who was selected seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft but has yet to consistently establish himself as a long-term cornerstone.
