The Lakers change strategy to sign Jonathan Kuminga

The Los Angeles Lakers continue working on the signing of Jonathan Kuminga through a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, but Georgia's refusal to take on Jarred Vanderbilt's contract is forcing Rob Pelinka to seek an alternative solution. The new approach involves Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht, along with Draft assets.

The operation is becoming a genuine exercise in financial engineering for the Lakers. The franchise wants to add Kuminga to complete the project around Luka Doncic, but Atlanta is not willing to simply accept the contracts that Los Angeles would prefer to offload. Therefore, the goal now is to find a third team to facilitate the deal and make the pieces fit without giving up a player who could be particularly important for the team's future.

Vanderbilt no longer the solution

For much of the summer, the Lakers had tried to use Jarred Vanderbilt as one of the main pieces in the sign-and-trade. The issue is that Atlanta is unwilling to take on his contract, and up to now, Los Angeles has not found a partner willing to absorb it.

This necessitates a change in approach. Instead of insisting on sending Vanderbilt to the Hawks, the Lakers are exploring the possibility of removing Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht from the deal, using their contracts to facilitate the move.

The difference is significant because Atlanta appears much more interested in receiving assets rather than taking on salaries they don't see as necessary. The Lakers would need to complement the deal with Draft assets, increasing the cost of acquiring Kuminga.

Hardy and Knecht, the new bargaining chips

The inclusion of Hardy is particularly significant. The young guard can be an attractive asset for a third team due to his age and potential, while Knecht offers something quite different: immediate outside shooting and room for growth.

The Lakers will have to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to secure Kuminga. They have already invested a significant amount of Draft capital in previous moves, and their ability to offer first-round picks is limited, so any additional pick could hold considerable value.

The challenge will be to find a team willing to receive Hardy and/or Knecht and, in return, help free up the necessary salary structure to complete the sign-and-trade.

Kuminga remains a priority

The effort has a rationale: the Lakers believe that Kuminga can address one of their squad's main issues.

The franchise needs physical presence, defensive ability, and a player capable of playing interior positions without sacrificing speed. Kuminga can play as a small forward or power forward, defend multiple positions, and attack the basket, traits especially valuable alongside Doncic.

Moreover, Los Angeles aims to give him a significant role from the start. The project has definitively entered the Doncic era and needs to surround the Slovenian with players capable of offsetting his defensive shortcomings and capitalizing on his exceptional playmaking ability.

A signing that may demand too much

The risk is evident: paying too much for a player who still must prove himself as a star.

Kuminga possesses extraordinary physical attributes, but his offensive development and consistency have raised doubts. The Lakers should not part with all their young assets and Draft capital for him if that hinders them from subsequently completing a competitive roster.

Hence, the involvement of a third team could be decisive. It would enable Los Angeles to retain Vanderbilt, acquire Kuminga, and distribute the contracts among several franchises.

The Lakers have realized that Atlanta will not make the signing easy on their terms and have begun seeking a more intricate solution. If they find such a partner, Kuminga could end up with the Lakers; if the price continues to rise, Rob Pelinka will have to decide if it's worth sacrificing even more resources for a player who should be important but has yet to prove himself a star.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Lakers cambian de estrategia para fichar a Jonathan Kuminga