Latest on Jonathan Kuminga, Lakers, Cavs

The Lakers remain interested in Jonathan Kuminga. The question is whether they’ll ever be able to meet his asking price.

According to LA reporter Jovan Buha, appearing on The Herd, the Lakers explored creating roughly $10 million in cap space to offer Kuminga a two-year, $20 million contract. But that proposal wasn’t enough to entice the free agent forward.

“My understanding was (the Lakers) could have cleared about $10 million in cap space to sign him to a two-year, $20 million deal and he was not interested in that,” Buha said. “I’ve heard that he’s been looking for closer to $20 million (per year). Doesn’t have to be exactly $20 million, but closer to that, north of $15 million.”

As previously reported by Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers and Cavaliers remain the teams most often linked to Kuminga as his free agency drags on.

Kuminga has worked out in Cleveland in the past and, by all accounts, would welcome the opportunity to join the Cavs. His agent, Aaron Turner, is a product of nearby Orange, Ohio.

A deal with either the Lakers or Cavs would almost certainly require the cooperation of the Hawks via a sign-and-trade.

For Los Angeles, that could prove especially challenging. Buha noted the Lakers’ current cap situation makes a sign-and-trade the most realistic path to acquiring Kuminga, assuming the two sides can first find common ground on a contract.

The Cavs, meanwhile, remain in a holding pattern along with much of the rest of the NBA as the league awaits LeBron James‘ free agency decision.

Sources have told Hoops Wire there are scenarios in which Cleveland could ultimately land both James and Kuminga. How that might happen, however, remains anyone’s guess.

Kuminga, 23, was traded from the Warriors to the Hawks at last season’s deadline. He appeared in 36 games overall, averaging 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.