Feb 26, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) brings the ball up the court against the Washington Wizards during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Feb 26, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) brings the ball up the court against the Washington Wizards during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said there is still a window for the Lakers to land Jonathan Kuminga through a sign-and-trade, with Jaden Hardy now as the main salary piece. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports went even further later, reporting that the Lakers and Hawks have started talking again, and Hardy’s $6.0 million salary has replaced Jarred Vanderbilt’s $12.4 million in those conversations.
That change makes some sense for the Hawks, but it still doesn’t completely help them with a packed roster, so taking back another player isn’t exactly what they need. Hardy is younger and cheaper than Vanderbilt, but Atlanta already has to move or waive some pieces before opening night.
So this feels like the kind of situation where a third team has to enter the deal, and the Nets make plenty of sense for that role. They went 20-62 last season, finished 13th in the East, and are still working with one of the youngest groups in the league. Taking a 24-year-old guard who shot 39.7% from three last season isn’t some huge commitment for them, especially if another draft asset comes with him.
It would basically let everyone get what they actually want. The Lakers get Kuminga, the Hawks get draft compensation without complicating an already crowded roster, and the Nets get Hardy and another future pick for helping connect the deal.
Here is how that three-team framework could look:
Mock Trade
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jonathan Kuminga (sign-and-trade)
Atlanta Hawks Receive: 2032 first-round pick (swap, via LAL)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jaden Hardy, 2032 second-round pick (via LAL)
The money would depend completely on what Kuminga accepts. Hardy makes $6.0 million in 2026-27, and a framework centered only around his salary would require Kuminga’s starting number to stay relatively low. This route could leave Kuminga with a three-year, $18-$21 million contract, an average annual salary of $6.5 million. If Kuminga keeps asking for that $20.0 million per season, the Lakers should just let him stay put in free agency at this point.
The Nets would also have to create enough room to absorb Hardy’s $6.0 million, but that isn’t a crazy obstacle for a team with flexibility and several movable or non-guaranteed pieces. The bigger point of using them is that Hardy doesn’t have to end up with the Hawks to make the deal possible.
The Lakers Finally Get Their Forward
At this point, the Lakers’ interest in Kuminga can be pinpointed to several months back. They spent basically the entire offseason getting younger around Luka Doncic, with Walker Kessler now their long-term center, Austin Reaves on a four-year, $180.0 million extension, and the roster clearly being built around Doncic’s timeline.
Kuminga finished last season at 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in only 23.1 minutes per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three. His numbers after joining the Hawks weren’t spectacular either, but he shot a better 47.6% from the field and 34.6% from three across 16 games.
The Lakers wouldn’t be trading for him because of what those 12.2 points look like on the stat sheet. I bet that if they’re still interested in him, the Lakers want to see what happens if the 6-foot-7 forward finally gets a stable role next to one of the best creators in basketball.
And according to Helin, that is part of the appeal for Kuminga, too. He reportedly likes the idea of joining the Lakers and starting at power forward. That is a pretty important detail after years of his role changing constantly.
There are obvious questions. Kuminga shot only 33.3% from three last season, and playing him next to Kessler would leave the Lakers with two starters who can’t really stretch the defense. He has also wanted a bigger offensive role for years, and becoming the third scoring option behind Doncic and Reaves probably isn’t exactly what he pictured.
Still, the Lakers have nothing to lose at this price, and even more importantly, at this point in the offseason. Hardy had a nice shooting season at 9.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while making 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from three, but the Lakers already have Doncic, Reaves, Collin Sexton, and Quentin Grimes at the guard spots. If the choice is Hardy plus future draft value or Kuminga, the Lakers should probably take the chance on the 23-year-old forward.
The Hawks Turn An Awkward Roster Into Draft Value
The Hawks went 46-36 last season, finished sixth in the East, and scored 118.5 points per game, sixth in the NBA. They also led the league with 30.1 assists per game. This isn’t a team trying to collect more young players and hope two or three of them become something. They are trying to tweak a playoff roster and stay financially flexible at the same time.
Their offseason made that even clearer. The Hawks added Lu Dort in July after already having plenty of perimeter depth, and that was the main catalyst for why they decided not to offer Kuminga his $24.3 million team option for next year, letting him go in free agency.
That is also why Hardy shouldn’t be the main return. Yes, he shot 39.7% from three. Yes, he is only 24. But the Hawks already boast a huge amount of perimeter scorers and off-ball shooters with CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Kingston Flemings, and even more. Adding another $6.0 million contract just to move Kuminga is really not worth it at this stage.
Kuminga played only 16 regular-season games for them last season. We’re in late August, and he is still unsigned after becoming a UFA in late June. Cleveland already retired from the market by acquiring Peyton Watson, while the Lakers and Timberwolves are the main teams still hanging around the situation. At some point, getting future draft upside and no salary back becomes a pretty reasonable ending.
The Hawks get out of the Kuminga situation, stay away from another messy contract issue, and keep another asset available for a future trade. That makes more sense than adding Hardy just because the Lakers happen to have him.
The Nets Get Paid To Help Finish The Deal
This is probably the most boring part of the trade. The Nets have no pressure to turn every roster spot into immediate wins. If another team wants them to absorb a young player and is willing to attach a second-round pick, that is exactly the type of move they should at least consider.
Hardy is still only 24 and made 104 threes in 57 games, shooting 38.6% from deep across his four NBA seasons. That is enough talent to justify another look, especially on a roster where developmental minutes are the main objective.
There isn’t much downside. His $6.0 million salary isn’t some long-term problem, and his deal also carries a $6.0 million team option for 2027-28. If he plays well, the Nets have a cheap 25-year-old guard for another season. If he doesn’t, they aren’t stuck with him for years.
It is also pretty funny how Hardy got here in the first place. The Lakers only acquired him in July when they sent Deandre Ayton away, receiving Hardy plus second-round picks in 2031 and 2032. A few weeks later, he could already be used as the salary piece that helps them make another trade.
For the Nets, none of that really matters. They get another young guard, another draft asset, and no obligation to build around him.
This Could Finally End The Kuminga Saga
At this point, Kuminga’s free agency has dragged on for way too long. A bunch of teams have been linked to him, different trade ideas have come and gone, and he is still sitting there without a deal. But the Lakers and Hawks are still talking, so this one clearly still has legs.
The money is still the biggest issue. Kuminga wanted around $20.0 million per year earlier in free agency, and becoming a $6-7 million player after betting on himself so much would be an incredible loss of value.
But honestly, after almost two months without a deal, taking less money might be where this is heading. Kuminga wants a bigger role, the Lakers can give him one, and most of his other options have already disappeared.
The trade would make sense for everybody too. The Lakers get a 23-year-old forward to grow next to Doncic and Kessler. The Hawks get future draft value instead of taking back another contract they don’t really need. The Nets get Hardy and another second-round pick just for helping make the trade work.
So there really isn’t some huge basketball problem stopping this deal. It mostly comes down to Kuminga’s contract. If he finally comes down on the money, the Lakers might have a real shot to get this done.