Lakers reportedly want to shop $66M duo after missing out on Timberwolves’ Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers thought they had their starting power forward position figured out as they went through free agency. That is the reason they did not really pursue anyone at the position besides Jonathan Kuminga.
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Things seemed to be going well for Kuminga as teams filled their rosters with other players at the position. From the beginning, the two sides had major interest in one another.
“There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure Kuminga’s commitment as their new wing addition,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
However, Kuminga decided to go another route, one that shocked much of the NBA world. The 23-year-old NBA champion went on to join Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, where he is set to be a starter for a very good team.
“Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. Kuminga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender,” ESPN’s Shams Charani wrote.
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Since missing out on Kuminga, the Lakers have been trying to figure out what to do next. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer revealed the team is still trying to trade Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt, two players who could be moved as the Lakers look to upgrade their wing and forward rotation.
“I do think that the Lakers are still going to be looking at potentially trading Dalton [Knecht], Jarred Vanderbilt,” Fischer said. “I think there’s plenty of time here before they have to make a decision. They do, I believe, still want to make some type of trade upgrade at the wing/forward spot after missing out on Jonathan Kuminga. I do think that the Lakers are incomplete right now moving forward.”
LA has been trying to move the duo together since the early parts of the summer, but teams appear to be drawing the line at Vanderbilt. Knecht is still very young, and teams like his ability to shoot.
Knecht and Vanderbilt are set to make a combined $66 million over their contracts. The Lakers are hoping to trade the duo before rosters have to be trimmed to 15 players, which would allow them to avoid waiving anyone. Only time will tell if the Lakers can find a new home for either player before the start of the season.
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