Insider: Hawks don't want Jarred Vanderbilt for Jonathan Kuminga

[ASFN Admin]

A little earlier this week, Khobi Price of the California Post reported that the Los Angeles Lakers and forward Jonathan Kuminga have mutual interest and that the Atlanta Hawks, Kuminga's last team, are open to a sign-and-trade deal. Price wrote that the Hawks are willing to do a trade "around the framework" of Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick swap coming in from Los Angeles.

But NBA insider Jake Fischer is saying something different about the situation. He wrote on "The Stein Line" Substack that while the Lakers are hoping to land Kuminga for Vanderbilt and a pick swap, that's not what Atlanta wants in return, and that a third team may have to get involved.

"While Kuminga and his representation have held ongoing dialogue with the Lakers about a potential role alongside Luka Dončić, sources say that the Hawks are seeking more than the Lakers can offer to this point," Fischer wrote.

"It’s believed that the Lakers hope to package their lone tradeable first-round pick swap left over in 2032 along with Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade proposal for Kuminga. Sources say Atlanta, however, has not considered taking back Vanderbilt in a deal that sends out Kuminga.

"There are said to be multi-team scenarios that the Lakers could pursue that offload Vanderbilt to a different team than Atlanta. That would help the Lakers provide Kuminga with an offer richer than the two-year, $20 million deal that sources say they originally presented him.

"While Kuminga would naturally be hoping for a richer deal than that, I’m told that the 23-year-old scorer is indeed open to various contract structures below his 2025-26 season salary of $22.5 million depending on what sort of sign-and-trade scenarios materialize from known suitors such as the Lakers and Cavaliers.

"The most clarity that can be offered on Kuminga’s future: If he indeed leaves Atlanta, it is almost certainly going to be via sign-and-trade rather than a move facilitated by cap space."

Vanderbilt, who is a good, versatile defender and a capable rebounder, is an extremely limited offensive player, and he is owed $12.4 million for the 2026-27 season. Thus, L.A. wants to get rid of him, since he's seen as having negative value.

Kuminga has his own question marks, namely his subpar 3-point shooting and his focus, attitude and desire. But he's very athletic, a strong finisher in transition and someone who can become an excellent defender. He's also 23 years of age, which means he's young enough to change his ways.

In five NBA seasons, he has career averages of 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22.1 minutes a game. He was traded by the Golden State Warriors, with whom he won a championship in 2022, to the Hawks in February for Kristaps Porzingis.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider: Hawks don't want Jarred Vanderbilt for Jonathan Kuminga

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