NBA Rumors: Jonathan Kuminga's signing with the Lakers becomes complicated
Jarred Vanderbilt was supposed to be the trade piece to acquire the forward, but that option seems to be slipping away and the trade falls through
Los Angeles Lakers have been linked all summer to a potential move for Jonathan Kuminga through a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks. In various proposals considered so far, Jarred Vanderbilt has emerged as one of the key pieces that Los Angeles could include along with other assets to complete the deal.
However, as the weeks have passed, that possibility has been losing strength. The Lakers remain interested in Kuminga and are still in the running for the player, but all signs point to Vanderbilt having an increasing chance of staying in Los Angeles next season.
The forward still has two years on his contract at about 25 million dollars, and while it was initially expected that his salary could be used to facilitate a trade for Kuminga, recent reports indicate that Jaden Hardy is now the player most likely to be included in a potential agreement with Atlanta.
Atlanta does not want Vanderbilt
According to reports from Kurt Helin of NBC and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Hardy has become the main asset the Lakers might be willing to include in a deal for Kuminga. Hardy's contract is lower, as he would earn six million dollars this season, but there is a fundamental problem: Atlanta would not be interested in taking on Vanderbilt.
“The Lakers and Hawks are talking again about a sign-and-trade, with guard Jaden Hardy apparently in the discussions — he earns six million dollars this season — while previously it was Jarred Vanderbilt — 12.4 million dollars,” wrote Helin.
The Lakers have also been linked to the possibility of including Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, or other young players, along with small draft assets, in a hypothetical deal for Kuminga. However, due to the over 12 million dollars that Vanderbilt has guaranteed for the next season, it was initially expected that his contract would be one of the main pieces of the proposal.
The problem is that Atlanta does not seem willing to accept him.
The Hawks had already rejected the possibility
Jake Fischer reported earlier in the summer that the Lakers hoped to include Vanderbilt along with their only first-round swap option left for 2032 in a sign-and-trade proposal for Kuminga.
“The Lakers are believed to be hoping to package their only negotiable first-round swap option left, the one from 2032, along with Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade proposal for Kuminga,” wrote Fischer. “Sources indicate that Atlanta, however, has not considered accepting Vanderbilt in a deal that sends Kuminga.”
Therefore, although the Lakers have had Vanderbilt's name on the table all summer, especially in the context of negotiations for Kuminga, the forward does not seem to be a particularly attractive asset for teams interested in negotiating with Los Angeles.
During the 2025-26 season, Vanderbilt played 65 games with the Lakers, averaging 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, with a 47.1% shooting percentage.
Everything points to Vanderbilt staying in Los Angeles
With this scenario, everything points to Vanderbilt remaining with the Lakers next season. The player also has a good relationship with Luka Doncic, the franchise's star, although that bond does not guarantee his continuity.
Svyatoslav Rovenchuk of LakeShowLife.com believes that Vanderbilt will end up playing again with the Lakers next season. The main obstacle to including him in the trade for Kuminga would be the absence of a third team willing to absorb his salary in exchange for draft assets.
“If the Lakers wanted to use Vanderbilt's contract in the outgoing package of this deal, they would need a third team to step in willing to take on that money in exchange for draft capital. As expected, none have emerged so far,” wrote Rovenchuk. “If Los Angeles wants to see Kuminga dressed in purple and gold, they may have to look for other options to achieve that.”
In that context, Vanderbilt's contract might prove easier to move next summer when it enters its final year and becomes an expiring contract.
The move of Klay Thompson may also influence
Rovenchuk also believes that the arrival of Klay Thompson to the Miami Heat makes it even less likely that Vanderbilt will be used as trade bait, whether to acquire the four-time NBA champion himself, Kuminga, or any other target.
“Perhaps the Lakers think they can offload Vanderbilt's salary in a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga. The lack of definitive progress suggests that this may not ultimately be the solution,” he added. “Los Angeles might have to count on Vando in their plans for next season.”
Thus, Vanderbilt could remain on the Lakers' roster for another season. The forward will be the sixth highest-paid player on the team next season, and although all indications are that he will not be traded this summer, his name will continue to appear in rumors as long as he remains on the Los Angeles roster.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: Se complica el fichaje de Jonathan Kuminga por los Lakers
