The first few days of this year’s free agency have been exciting, to say the least. Although the Los Angeles Lakers have been the most active team in the market, having made four new additions to their roster, recent interest in Jonathan Kuminga could suggest the Purple and Gold have more moves in store.
Jonathan Kuminga is certainly one of the more interesting names on the free agency market. After an extended stalemate with the Golden State Warriors last year, Kuminga found himself in a promising place to start afresh after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, with the Hawks declining his $24.3 million team option, the 23-year-old forward finds himself in search of a new team.
As things stand, Kuminga has garnered interest from several teams, with the Lakers being particularly aggressive in their attempts to sign him. Although this could prove eventful, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Milwaukee Bucks could emerge as competitors in a bidding war for the star-caliber forward. He shared:
“Milwaukee is looming as a team that’s got some Jonathan Kuminga interest. I still think it’s plausible that he could go back to Atlanta. He could be signed and traded out of Atlanta… So Kuminga’s got an interesting market that he’s working through.”
The Milwaukee Bucks were previously identified as a landing spot for Jonathan Kuminga when trade rumors linked Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Warriors. Although this trade never materialized, their interest in landing an Antetokounmpo-like player may see the Bucks’ efforts to sign Kuminga persist.
Although Fischer hints at the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Kuminga in his report, it is worth noting that he officially became an unrestricted free agent after Atlanta declined his team option. Thus, with a clear line to approach him in free agency, we look at how the Bucks could outbid a team like the Lakers.
What Could Be The Bucks’ Strategy For Jonathan Kuminga?
To understand why the Bucks might win an all-out bidding war for Jonathan Kuminga, it is more important to first gauge what the Lakers can offer.
On paper, the Los Angeles Lakers have already made some significant moves. Aside from trading for Walker Kessler, L.A. also signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton yesterday. While promising, these additions ate away at Los Angeles’ overall 2026-27 payroll, which now stands at $182.6 million (will increase subject to Mamukelashvili’s contract details).
At the current juncture, the Lakers are still under the $201 million tax line. However, with Mamukelashvili projected to earn nearly $13 million annually, the Purple and Gold will have roughly $5.4 million before going over the tax, and will be $13.4 million under the first apron.
In theory, the Lakers could offer him a three-year, $36 million deal using the non-taxpayer MLE. However, this would see them hard-capped at the first apron, and with only $1.4 million to spare with two more roster spots to fill, the Purple and Gold would be forced to waive players like Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million) to gain more flexibility. Overall, this is complicated.
On paper, this would still be a solid move for Jonathan Kuminga from a competitive standpoint. But it is worth acknowledging Kuminga’s wishes to fulfill his potential as a star-caliber player. On a team like the Lakers, he may not be in the best position to do so.
In essence, this is the foundation of Milwaukee’s strategy.
As a team in rebuild mode, the Bucks are pursuing star-caliber players to build around. With Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware in place, Milwaukee can only look to strengthen its core. This could be a clear opportunity for Kuminga to step in and flourish.
Last season, Jonathan Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. His stats are not awe-inspiring, but when noting his physical tools and potential, it is safe to say he is worth investing in.
From a contract standpoint, the Bucks are in a much more favorable position to offer a lucrative contract to the 23-year-old. After trading Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat, the Bucks gained a $25.5 million trade exception.
Realistically, the Bucks could stand to take on Kuminga’s contract in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, as Fischer mentioned, or they could easily offer him a new three-year, $75 million deal to outbid suitors like the Lakers.
The Bucks’ flexibility is ideal in this scenario, and for a young player like Jonathan Kuminga, an offer of this nature could be appealing. However, the decision ultimately rests with the 23-year-old.
If he decides to pursue the money and hopefully develop into a star, joining a team like the Bucks would prove ideal. Conversely, if competing for a title regardless of the role is a greater priority, joining a team like the Lakers may prove more worthwhile.
