During a Bleacher Report livestream from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, an NBA insider offered a discouraging update on the Lakers’ pursuit of the 23-year-old forward, indicating negotiations have cooled despite continued interest.
“The Lakers remain connected to Kuminga, but the longer there isn’t an agreement between the team and Kuminga’s representation, it does seem like the iron is losing its hotness,” the insider said, acknowledging the evolving dynamics of the talks. Nevertheless, Kuminga is still viewed as the Lakers’ top choice to fill the wing opening.
The insider also noted that Kuminga has alternatives if a deal doesn’t progress. If the current path doesn’t reach fruition, Kuminga could explore other options, including a return to Atlanta.
A notable development around the same time was the Lakers’ formal acquisition of veteran guard Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19 million deal, a move that reshapes the club’s salary-cap outlook. With Sexton now on the roster, the Lakers sit above the salary cap, limiting immediate room to upgrade the roster through further signings.
Analysts observed that with the team above the cap, any additional improvements would need to come via trade or veteran minimum signings. This shift makes the previously discussed Kuminga contract framework less feasible and suggests a sign-and-trade might be necessary to keep Kuminga in play.
The situation marks a change from just a few days earlier, when reports indicated the Lakers had increased their offer to Kuminga to a two-year, $20 million contract as part of their pursuit of an athletic wing to complement Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and the newly acquired center Walker Kessler.
Kuminga has been viewed as a young, athletic forward who could help address the Lakers’ need at small forward. In the previous season, he averaged solid numbers across regular season and playoffs, contributing both scoring and rebounding.
The latest update implies the Lakers’ pursuit remains ongoing in principle, but the practical path to adding Kuminga is now more complex. With negotiations appearing cooler and Kuminga endowed with multiple options, including the possibility of a return to Atlanta, the team may need to pursue a sign-and-trade to preserve the chance to add him.
If a deal cannot be reached directly, the Lakers might explore alternative routes to improve the roster, given their current cap constraints. The coming weeks will be telling as to whether a path to Kuminga on the roster can be forged, or if the Lakers pivot toward other avenues to strengthen the wing position.
