Jonathan Kuminga was so strongly linked to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this summer that many fans of the Purple and Gold were already pencilling in the former Golden State Warriors forward as part of the opening night rotation.
The Lakers have long appeared the strongest suitor for Kuminga, but the threat of a move to the Minnesota Timberwolves has seemingly pushed Rob Pelinka and the front office into action in a way the Warriors didn't have to fear last offseason.
Lakers act on Jonathan Kuminga pressure from Timberwolves
After the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a major sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson last week, the Lakers and now Timberwolves have risen as really the only two parties left in the Kuminga race. Minnesota, in particular, have emerged with ESPN's Brian Windhorst even stating, "watch the Wolves in the next couple of days" during an episode of The Hoop Collective on Friday.
That appears to have sprung the Lakers into action, with Kurt Helin of NBC Sports reporting on Monday that previously abandoned sign-and-trade talks with the Hawks are now back on.
"The Lakers and Hawks are talking sign-and-trade again, with guard Jaden Hardey reportedly in the conversation (he makes $6 million this season), while previously that was Jared Vanderbilt ($12.4 million)," Helin wrote.
At this point we almost have to frame Kuminga as a Lakers player and that he is there's to lose. He's certainly no longer a Hawks player after they declined his $24.3 million team option, allowed him to enter free agency, and have given his jersey number to the recently acquired Lu Dort.
Warriors didn't fear external pressure in Jonathan Kuminga talks
The leverage of restricted free agency meant the Warriors didn't have to fear external pressure in their negotiations with Kuminga last offseason, even as the likes of the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns came calling about a sign-and-trade.
It allowed Golden State to play things right out until the start of training camp, eventually signing Kuminga on a deal closer to their terms. Needless to say that if the Lakers can't execute a sign-and-trade or deal for Kuminga by training camp, that likely means he'll be a member of the Timberwolves.
That pressure elevates the risk of the Lakers making an ill-advised trade where they give up a meaningful asset to the Hawks, rather than remaining patient and hoping they can sign him outright on a cheap one-year deal.
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