Report: Kuminga and Lakers have mutual interest in a partnership! A deal is possible, with the key being salary cap adjustments.

On July 7, Beijing time, Lakers reporter Buha answered fan questions about Kuminga on a podcast, revealing that Kuminga and the Lakers have mutual interest in working together.

"Both sides are indeed interested. Looking at the current free agent market, there aren't many players of Kuminga's type at the same price and potential level... Many teams are lacking forwards and wings right now, so Kuminga will certainly have no shortage of pursuers," Buha stated.

Buha then added, "But there's an objective obstacle now. The same reason Rui Hachimura's signing was put on hold earlier: all teams are waiting for LeBron's final decision. For example, if you were the Timberwolves' management, would you choose LeBron or Kuminga? Even if LeBron is only a short-term option and Kuminga offers long-term development, teams would still prioritize chasing LeBron."

"It can be said that Kuminga has become an indirect victim of the LeBron sweepstakes. To some extent, his contract negotiations have stalled because of it. From what I understand, both the Lakers and Kuminga are genuinely interested in each other, and there is a possibility of reaching an agreement. The key is how the Lakers adjust their salary cap to make it happen."

Earlier, a US media report indicated that if the Lakers waive Vanderbilt and use a stretched contract method, they could free up approximately $7 million in cap space, giving them the operational flexibility to make an offer to Kuminga.

In the 2025-26 season, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, with a 46.3% field goal percentage and 33.3% three-point percentage. The Lakers were interested in acquiring him early this year, and signing this forward remains a possibility. If they can land Kuminga, the Lakers' offseason reinforcement efforts could be complete, but it is still uncertain whether Pelinka can finalize the deal.