Lakers keep calling Kuminga! Offers still far below expectations; player willing to sign short-term deal with Hawks

On July 24, Beijing time, according to ESPN reporter Slater, the Los Angeles Lakers have been continuously contacting forward Jonathan Kuminga in the offseason free agent market.

"I can say clearly that the Lakers have been constantly calling Kuminga," Slater revealed on the NBA Today show. "But obviously, the offers they have made are not enough to convince Kuminga to make up his mind to join. However, there is a key point in the Lakers' recruitment pitch: 'You have a chance to start here.'"

All-time leading scorer LeBron James has previously informed the Lakers that he will seek a new team next season, and Kuminga's arrival could fill the void left by James' departure.

On June 30, the Atlanta Hawks declined to execute Kuminga's $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season, making Kuminga an unrestricted free agent.

NBA insider sources Marc Stein and Jake Fischer previously reported that the Hawks will be cautious in evaluating sign-and-trade deals involving Kuminga; meanwhile, Kuminga himself is willing to stay in Atlanta on a short-term contract.

There are reports that the Lakers offered the 23-year-old a two-year, $20 million contract, but Kuminga's expected salary offer is much higher than that.

Last season, Kuminga played for the Golden State Warriors and the Hawks, appearing in a total of 36 games. During his time with both teams, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

Kuminga never lived up to external expectations during his time with the Warriors. The 7th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Warriors, with shooting percentages of 50.3% from the field, 33.1% from three, and 69.9% from the free throw line.

After losing James, the Lakers hope to remain a Western Conference playoff contender. If they successfully sign Kuminga, he could team up with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to become an important offensive complement.