Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency remains stuck in place, and the reason is not just his own market. Over the weekend, Jake Fischer said his situation is “a bit on pause, on hold” while LeBron James’ future is determined, leaving the Lakers unable to finish the roster plan they had been building around the possibility of adding him.
That delay matters now because Kuminga is still looking for the deal he wants, and the Lakers are still waiting to see whether they can act. Fischer said Kuminga and his representation are “navigating what their market looks like” after his $24 million option was turned down by the Hawks, a number that shows how far this has already drifted from a simple contract chase into a bigger offseason decision.
The update came during a live show at Summer League and gave a clearer picture of why Kuminga has not landed yet. Last season, Kuminga and the Warriors had a lengthy stand-off that ended in an unsatisfying conclusion, and this summer has brought more of the same uncertainty as he and his agent keep searching for money. The Lakers, who are looking for forwards, no longer have salary-cap room after spending more than a quarter-billion dollars on Wednesday, which means they would need to complete a sign-and-trade for Kuminga or for any other player they bring in.
That leaves the Lakers in a waiting game they do not fully control. They are not being forced to rush, and the situation gives them leverage to see how the market settles, but it also means Kuminga’s choice may come down to fit as much as money. Fischer added that Kuminga probably could have signed with the Lakers if he had been more amenable to what Los Angeles was envisioning, a reminder that the gap is not just financial.
The other pull on the market is still there, too: the Cavs have been heavily linked to Kuminga throughout free agency. So the answer to why he is still unsigned is simple enough. His market is still being sorted out, LeBron James’ future is still unresolved, and the Lakers cannot move until both of those pieces stop shifting.
