The Los Angeles Lakers remain arguably the biggest suitor for Jonathan Kuminga, potentially resulting in a situation the Golden State Warriors wanted to avoid when they traded him at February's mid-season deadline.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of restricted free agent Peyton Watson gives the Lakers an edge in what may result as a one-team race for Kuminga, with the former Warrior forward remaining unsigned six weeks into free agency.
Lakers gain Jonathan Kuminga edge Warriors wanted to avoid
Kuminga eventually landing with the Lakers is looking like the most realistic scenario, particularly given the Atlanta Hawks have also signalled they've moved on from the 23-year-old after giving Lu Dort his No. 0 jersey.
Heading to the Lakers would give Kuminga an opportunity to exact some revenge on the Warriors next season and potentially moving forward, with the two teams facing off four times in the regular season including in some marquee matchups.
Having Kuminga play well for a divisional rival is something Golden State were desperate to avoid, which is part of the reason why they rejected sign-and-trade interest from the Sacramento Kings when the former seventh overall pick was a restricted free agent last year.
“There is a sense from some people involved that there's a real reluctance not only to finally ‘quit him,’ if you will, but also to see him go up the road to another Northern California NBA team," The Athletic's Sam Amick reported 10 months ago during the free agency saga.
There's no coincidence that when the Warriors finally moved on in February, it was in a trade to an Eastern Conference team in the Hawks where they would have felt the effects less if Kuminga were to develop and breakout.
Jonathan Kuminga would get ultimate revenge opportunity with Lakers
The Lakers are far more of a threat than the Kings would have been when it comes to the Warriors further regretting the Kuminga situation. Even if he'd put up numbers in Sacramento, it's unlikely that would have led to winning and much relevance in the short-term.
Should he land in Los Angeles, Kuminga will get the chance to play a significant (and potentially starting) role on a playoff-contending team, and one that will be directly vying with Golden State for position in the Western Conference standings.
That's a situation that will make some within the Warrior organization nervous, even if the Hawks' decision to move on from Kuminga is further proof that he'll likely never deliver on the stardom that was once projected.
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