Although there's constant buzz around the NBA saying that a blockbuster deal before the Feb. 5 trade deadline is difficult to see, Golden State Warriors F Jonathan Kuminga is "demanding a trade away" from his current team, according to senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
Jan. 15 is the day that Kuminga has become trade eligible, and it seems that it's just a matter of time before the 23-year-old gets a fresh restart with a new franchise.
So what teams could be involved in a deal for the former No. 7 overall pick in 2021?
Lakers' Rob Pelinka is interested in Jonathan Kuminga as an athletic wing next to Luka Doncic
Teams like the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as possible suitors for Kuminga, but Los Angeles Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, is a fan of the Warriors forward as well.
"Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is a fan of Kuminga’s, sources say, and likes the idea of him as an athletic wing on a Luka Dončić-led team," wrote NBC Sports' Dalton Johnson. "The Warriors have been aware of the Lakers’ likeness for Kuminga, though it’s unclear how likely an in-season move between the two teams is.
Los Angeles has under $1 million of space from the first apron, so a deal involving multiple Lakers players would have to take place to avoid the salary threshold.
With Kuminga earning $22.5 million this season, it seems highly unlikely that the Lakers are a suitor. The only realistic case for a trade getting done between the two teams is if Golden State is willing to take multiple veteran pieces while pairing them with draft capital.
However, the Lakers would have to swallow a big pill that comes with uncertainty in Kuminga's play. He hasn't logged an appearance in an NBA game since Dec. 18, and is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists with 24.8 minutes per game in 2025-26.
It seems unlikely, but the Lakers are a team that has emerged in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes.
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