Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler, Tim Hardaway
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Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a 3-and-D wing has led them to one of the league’s most intriguing young forwards — and into one of its most complicated trade constructions.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers’ interest in Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is real, ongoing and increasingly constrained by structural realities that may require a three-team deal to resolve.
“I reported that the Lakers have some interest in him. They checked in over the summer,” Fischer said Tuesday on Bleacher Report’s NBA Insider Notebook. “The Lakers are continuing to look at all options on the 3-and-D wing market right now, and they’re not finding many. So, of course, Jonathan Kuminga is on their list. But I think for either team to get him, they’re going to need to find some type of three-team arrangement.”
That framework reflects both the Lakers’ need — and the Warriors’ resistance.
Why the Warriors Are Pushing Back
Fischer reported that Golden State has been clear about what it does not want.
The Warriors have no interest in absorbing contracts beyond next season. And they are not eager to move Kuminga for a collection of role players — the contracts most readily available from the Lakers.
“Golden State has made it very clear they have no interest in [Sacramento’s] Malik Monk,” Fischer said. “And I don’t think the Warriors want to move Kuminga for some combination of Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber.”
That impasse is what creates the need for a third team — one that can supply either the solid rotational player or the draft capital Golden State is seeking.
Lakers’ Interest Is Real — and Longstanding
Fischer first reported that the Lakers contacted Golden State about Kuminga during the sides’ restricted free agency standoff last summer and have continued to monitor his situation.
“The Lakers did call Golden State about Kuminga during the sides’ summer standoff,” Fischer wrote Monday in The Stein Line. “I’m told that the Lakers have likewise continued to monitor Kuminga’s situation while casting a wide net.”
It is the clearest confirmation yet that Kuminga is on the Lakers’ internal board as they search for size, defense and athleticism on the wing.
Why Kuminga Fits the Lakers’ ‘Buy-Low’ Profile
Around the league, Kuminga is increasingly viewed as a potential buy-low candidate — not because his talent has declined, but because his role in Golden State has narrowed.
At just 23, Kuminga remains one of the league’s most physically gifted young forwards, combining elite athleticism with defensive versatility and transition scoring. His offensive consistency remains a work in progress, but his upside is undeniable.
That profile makes him different from other names linked to the Lakers, such as Miami’s Andrew Wiggins or New Orleans’ Herb Jones, both of whom would command higher prices and longer-term financial commitments.
Kuminga represents a more realistic — and more flexible — target: a developmental bet with upside rather than a finished product with a premium cost.
Trade Window Opens Jan. 15 — but Pressure Does Not
Kuminga’s trade restriction lifts Jan. 15, roughly three weeks before the Feb. 5 deadline.
But Fischer cautioned that neither side is treating that date as a trigger.
“Golden State understands that it might need until Feb. 5,” Fischer wrote, adding that the Warriors are not motivated to move Kuminga simply to move him.
Their goal is to extract meaningful on-court value.
Golden State wants “a legitimate rotational piece (or two)” that can raise championship odds while Stephen Curry remains at an elite level.
That means Kuminga will not be cheap, and he will not be a salary dump. But he is relatively cheaper than their other trade targets.
The Structural Challenge for the Lakers
The Lakers’ appeal as a suitor lies in flexibility, not star power.
They have expiring contracts, young shooters and future draft optionality — but not the kind of centerpiece asset Golden State appears to want directly.
That is why the concept of a three-team deal has become central.
In such a structure, the Lakers would send their available contracts elsewhere, a third team would provide Golden State with a more appealing asset, and Kuminga would land in Los Angeles.
It is complicated. It is fragile. But it is not impossible.
What It Means for the Lakers
The Lakers are not chasing Kuminga because he is perfect.
They are monitoring him because he is attainable.
They are not ignoring Wiggins or Jones. But they are adjusting to market reality.
And in a deadline environment defined by scarcity, that adjustment may be the most important move of all.
Whether the Lakers can solve the structural puzzle required to land Jonathan Kuminga remains uncertain.
What is clear is that they are trying.
And in this market, trying is already half the battle.