As unrestricted Atlanta Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga looks to secure his next chapter, he has had to play the waiting game this offseason.
But according to one NBA executive, waiting any longer isn't going to do much for Kuminga, as "nothing new" is going to happen.
The executive indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers and other teams have told Kuminga what they can do, and now, it's his move.
“I think he would like to play for the Lakers and they’d like to have him, but I know they–and a lot of teams–have already told him, ‘Look, this is what we can do,’ so he has all the information," the executive said, per Heavy Sports. "The money, the cap space, it has been spent. He’s not waiting for anything new out there, because there is nothing new that’s gonna happen. So, he is stuck. But he is entitled to take as much time as he wants.”
The Lakers have been the team perhaps most heavily linked to Kuminga. They reportedly see him as a good fit alongside star guard Luka Doncic and were recently described as the "hungriest" suitor for the forward.
But that doesn't mean they're a lock to land him. Earlier this offseason, there seemed to be some momentum between the two sides before that ultimately stalled. There have also been other teams linked to the former lottery pick, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hawks got a decent look at Kuminga last season after acquiring him from the Golden State Warriors. He appeared in 16 games in the regular season after the trade, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest. He then averaged 13.7 points per game in the playoffs.
But it wasn't enough for the team to pick up his contract option, which led to him becoming an unrestricted free agent. The door hasn't been totally shut on the possibility of Kuminga returning to Atlanta, but other teams have been discussed more as potential landing spots for him.
In order to truly spread his wings at the NBA level, he may need to land somewhere where he can play a large role. He could start for the Lakers, who lost star wing LeBron James this offseason, or the Cavs, who have long needed help on the wing.
Either way, it sounds like teams have made their offers to Kuminga, and it may be his move. He may need to bite the bullet and take a number that is lower than what he was looking for this summer. There is also a good chance a sign-and-trade will have to come together in order to get him where he needs to go.
Sooner or later, the saga will come to an end, which will allow the Hawks to check another box off their offseason to-do list. Until then, they have to remain prepared to be involved in the resolution one way or another.
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