One rumor that has been permeating in NBA circles recently is that the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks have discussed a sign-and-trade scenario that would send Jonathan Kuminga to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package centered around Jarred Vanderbilt. The deal would give the Lakers an athletic wing to pair alongside Luka Doncic, while giving the Hawks some draft assets moving forward.
Recently, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer took to Bleacher Report to report the latest on this proposed deal, and they didn’t exactly make it seem like things are coming together smoothly.
‘They would need Jarred Vanderbilt to be in the trade, and we know the Hawks have shown resistance to it…” said Stein, per Hoopshype.
“I also don’t think the Lakers are just like trying to shop Jarred Vanderbilt around the league. I haven’t gotten that sense, either,” said Fischer.
At this point, it’s unclear why the Lakers would have any hesitation to move Vanderbilt for the right price, considering that he has dealt with frequent injury problems and, even when healthy, has often struggled to stay in JJ Redick’s rotation due to his offensive shortcomings.
In a vacuum, Kuminga would check a lot of boxes for the Lakers, as priority number one is giving Doncic and Austin Reaves some lengthy, athletic wings who can switch on defense in order to help offset some of their weaknesses.
Fischer also noted that “…if that deal doesn’t come to a fruition, Kuminga does have several other options on the table including going back to Atlanta.”
Kuminga was traded to the Hawks from the Golden State Warriors last season and had an up and down tenure in Atlanta. It remains to be seen where his next NBA home will be.
One rumor that has been permeating in NBA circles recently is that the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks have discussed a sign-and-trade scenario that would send Jonathan Kuminga to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package centered around Jarred Vanderbilt.
