The Lakers continue to prioritize Jonathan Kuminga as their preferred starting wing after previously making him an offer and exploring sign-and-trade paths, while Cleveland remains more focused on Peyton Watson.
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The Los Angeles Lakers remain focused on Jonathan Kuminga as they continue searching for another major addition on the wing.
According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, Kuminga and Peyton Watson are the next two major free-agent dominoes expected to fall, with both players still involved with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, Cleveland's stronger focus appears to be on Watson, while the Lakers continue to prioritize Kuminga as their preferred option to become the team's starting wing.
Lakers have already made offer to Kuminga
Los Angeles' pursuit of Kuminga has been active throughout the offseason and has gone considerably further than simply expressing interest.
In early July, it was reported that the Lakers were looking at a two-year, $20 million contract for Kuminga and viewed the athletic 6-foot-7 forward as someone who could start at small forward.
ESPN's Anthony Slater also reported that the Lakers had been improving their offer while stressing to Kuminga how important he could be to what the organization is building around Luka Doncic, including the possibility of a starting role.
The recruitment reached the point where Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick held a virtual meeting with Kuminga to pitch him on the opportunity in Los Angeles.
ESPN later reported that Los Angeles was selling Kuminga on the chance to rebuild his value in a significant role, similar to the opportunity Malik Monk used with the Lakers before earning considerably larger contracts elsewhere.
Lakers explored sign-and-trade route
The Lakers have also explored more complicated ways of increasing their offer.
According to previous reporting from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Los Angeles hoped to package Jarred Vanderbilt and its 2032 first-round pick swap in a potential sign-and-trade for Kuminga, although Atlanta was not interested in taking Vanderbilt back.
Multi-team possibilities were also discussed as a way to redirect Vanderbilt elsewhere and create room for a richer Kuminga contract.
Those financial complications helped stall negotiations despite the Lakers' persistent interest.
Los Angeles remained in contact with Kuminga's camp later in July, with ESPN's Anthony Slater reporting that the team continued pursuing him after other offseason additions had already been completed.
As recently as early August, ESPN reported that the Lakers remained interested after meeting with Kuminga, although movement toward an agreement had been stalled for several weeks.
Kuminga became an unrestricted free agent after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes across 16 regular-season games after joining Atlanta in February.
Cleveland remains another potential destination, but Watson appears to be the Cavaliers' more prominent target.
That could ultimately benefit the Lakers. If Cleveland succeeds in landing Watson, one of the primary teams still involved with Kuminga would effectively be removed from his market.
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