Another one of the offseason’s key storylines came to an end on Wednesday night as the Denver Nuggets officially traded Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-team deal. While this trade is quite beneficial for the Cavs, the ripple effect of this transaction could prove worthwhile for the Los Angeles Lakers, too.
To avoid any confusion, although the Lakers were invested in pursuing Peyton Watson this summer, they weren’t necessarily one of the favorites to land the 23-year-old forward. Hence, the merit doesn’t lie in Watson being moved. Instead, it lies in what this trade implies for free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.
After the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, Jonathan Kuminga effectively became an unrestricted free agent, garnering considerable interest from teams on the market. While the Lakers were widely viewed as favorites to acquire him, the Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves also threw their hats in the ring, making negotiations that much more challenging.
For the most part, talks between Kuminga’s representation and the Lakers halted as the forward’s contract demands were not being met. Even though the framework for a sign-and-trade deal was also put in place, it was clear that the forward was dissatisfied with the Lakers’ offer.
There was reason to believe that the 23-year-old was biding his time, waiting for the Cavaliers to present a more lucrative offer. Now, however, with Cleveland acquiring Peyton Watson after signing him to a four-year, $88 million deal, a viable option seems to have disappeared, leaving Kuminga in a vulnerable position heading into negotiations.
For all intents and purposes, this is an extremely favorable situation for the Purple and Gold. Along with the door to the Cavs shut, the Clippers are out of the race after using their $17 million trade exception to absorb Max Strus‘ contract. With their assets also headed out in this trade with the Cavaliers, the Clippers may not have anything of value to offer the Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga.
With fewer cards up his sleeve, Jonathan Kuminga has lost some sway in negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers. But even though the Purple and Gold are in a better position, they may not be in the clear to land the 23-year-old forward just yet.
The Lakers And The Wolves Are Competing To Land Jonathan Kuminga
The Lakers remain the leaders in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes, but as mentioned earlier, teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves remain in pursuit of the talented young forward.
With the Cavs being eliminated from the running, it appears the race has come down to the two aforementioned teams, as even NBA insider Jake Fischer noted:
“Not a lock… But I think it’s a lock between the Lakers and the Wolves.”
Fischer: Kuminga to LAL or Wolves is a lock pic.twitter.com/0jr2Skx1Sj
— 🎯 (@AustinThreeves) August 20, 2026
Realistically, the Wolves’ chances of landing Kuminga appear solid, perhaps even more promising than the Lakers’. Minnesota is a young team led by a formidable duo of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Purely as an environment, one could argue that the Wolves are a more appealing landing spot.
Unfortunately, Minnesota’s appeal is clouded by their limited cap space. With a payroll of $196.0 million and 15 players on the roster, the Wolves could offer Kuminga up to $13.0 million annually. But given their limited draft assets, the Hawks may be less inclined to engage with the Wolves.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has shown some interest in completing a deal built around Jarred Vanderbilt and draft compensation from the Lakers, though it would likely require a third team to get involved. While this would imply less money for Jonathan Kuminga, the current circumstances may not support the forward’s demands as much.
The upcoming rounds of negotiations could ultimately decide where Kuminga will wind up this season. While some reports also indicate that a return to the Hawks remains on the table if he’s willing to accept a sizable pay cut, one would argue that a move to the Lakers or even the Wolves may be more favorable.
