After a prolonged stalemate with the Golden State Warriors last season, Jonathan Kuminga finally found himself on the way out of the Bay Area after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Although this move marked the beginning of a new era for the gifted forward, it appears to have been short-lived.
After only 36 appearances for the Hawks, Jonathan Kuminga finds himself entering free agency, as the Hawks have reportedly declined his $24.3 million team option. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported this, sharing:
“The Atlanta Hawks are declining Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option, making him a free agent, sources tell ESPN.”
It is safe to say that Kuminga’s experience in free agency hasn’t been the most positive one. However, the circumstances are different this year. With the forward officially becoming a free agent, he possesses the freedom to engage in discussions and sign with any team of his choosing.
In light of his potential, along with last season’s averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.6 steals per game, the 23-year-old is bound to attract some suitors. With the free agency period set to begin on Tuesday, we explore four teams that could emerge as an ideal landing spot for the forward.
Milwaukee Bucks Offer A Promising New Start
Among the several teams that could emerge as a potential landing spot this summer, the Milwaukee Bucks may be among the most intriguing ones.
The Bucks are undergoing a massive shift in direction. Having traded their franchise player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to the Miami Heat, Milwaukee is not only undergoing a roster overhaul but also a change in identity.
Although the Bucks acquired some noteworthy assets in the trade with the Heat, the team does not inspire much confidence as a competitive unit. Thus, with the intention of strengthening its core and boosting its offense, Milwaukee may see the merit in pursuing a star-caliber player like Jonathan Kuminga.
Acquiring Kuminga may have proven challenging in the past, but following the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the Bucks are in a far better financial position. Given that they will be nearly $13 million under the cap once the Heat deal is finalized, Milwaukee could offer Kuminga a competitive deal. However, if it exceeds $20 million annually, the Bucks may not see much value in it.
Cleveland Cavaliers Strengthen Their Roster
While a rebuilding team like the Milwaukee Bucks would see great value in pursuing a star-caliber forward like Jonathan Kuminga, reports indicate that the Cleveland Cavaliers may also display some interest in acquiring the 23-year-old forward this summer.
Cleveland’s pursuit of Kuminga may come as a surprise to many. But given the team’s underwhelming display in the Eastern Conference Finals, it is evident that the Cavs need an upgrade.
Unlike the Bucks and some other teams on this list, Cleveland isn’t in a great financial position to present Kuminga with a meaningful offer. Given that they are already deep into luxury tax territory with a payroll of $222.2 million, Cleveland may have to shed a considerable amount of salary before even presenting Kuminga with a team-friendly contract worth roughly $4-$5 million annually.
For the most part, joining the Cavaliers would place Kuminga in a position to win. Given what he brings to the table offensively, the forward could play a vital scoring role. However, it is also worth mentioning that Cleveland may view this addition as a means of improving their bench. Thus, it may not immediately align with Kuminga.
Chicago Bulls Add Another Piece To Their Core
The Chicago Bulls were one of the teams Jonathan Kuminga was linked to during last year’s offseason. Although no such move materialized, considering how the Bulls’ franchise restructuring is going, there is some room to debate that this may be their chance to pursue another star-caliber player.
In many ways, the Bulls could be the best landing spot for Kuminga this summer. With extensive changes, such as the addition of players like Nic Claxton, Chicago is gearing up to be interesting. Hence, by adding another piece like the Kuminga, the Bulls would only be strengthening their core.
Although Chicago already possesses a gifted forward in Matas Buzelis and just drafted another talented rookie in Caleb Wilson, adding another wing could be promising. When also factoring in the potential partnership of Kuminga and Josh Giddey, Chicago’s front office would have good reason to be excited.
Earlier in the month, the Bulls were expected to have the most free cap space entering the offseason. However, once the Claxton deal is finalized, Chicago’s available cap space will come down to approximately $31 million.
With this, the Bulls have all the freedom to offer Kuminga a substantial contract. Still, given the need to build a stronger roster, Chicago may see more merit in offering him a three-year, $50 million deal.
Sacramento Kings Finally Get Their Man
Although the Chicago Bulls were among the teams that showed an interest in acquiring Jonathan Kuminga last year, none came as close as the Sacramento Kings. With reports highlighting the mutual interest between the two parties to facilitate the move, the Kings were deeply invested in landing the 23-year-old.
Obviously, no such move materialized at the time. However, Sacramento finally has a clear line to sign the forward this summer. With Kuminga entering unrestricted free agency, the freedom to sign him without any complications may be quite appealing to the Kings.
On that note, NBA insider Marc J. Spears also reported on Sacramento’s interest in landing Kuminga this offseason, stating:
“The Sacramento Kings had a strong interest in Jonathan Kuminga before he was dealt from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks, and are expected to be interested in him now as a free agent.”
While this is promising, Spears also highlighted a key factor that could affect the signing, adding:
“But it would certainly come at a mammoth pay cut for JK to come to the Kings as they would have a $2.6 million minimum to offer.”
The Kings’ current payroll is over the cap at $199.9 million, limiting their ability to offer Jonathan Kuminga a lucrative deal. Still, it is worth noting that many of the Kings’ stars are likely on their way out this summer. Thus, if Sacramento can clear enough cap space by offloading some contracts, they may be in a better position to sign him to a three-year, $40 million deal to maintain some flexibility.
