Minnesota Timberwolves · 51 updates
With Jonathan Kuminga signing with Minnesota instead, the Lakers no longer have an obvious motivation to move Jarred Vanderbilt, Khobi Price reports. LA had reportedly explored sign-and-trade scenarios involving Vanderbilt this offseason, including one tied to a possible Atlanta deal for Kuminga, but none materialized.
With Jonathan Kuminga off the board in Minnesota, Lakers reporter Jacob Rude says a trade is now more likely than a free-agent signing, though roster spots around the league are scarce.
With Jonathan Kuminga signing with Minnesota instead, the Lakers are exploring options to fill their power forward and backup center needs, per Khobi Price of the California Post.
Minnesota waived John Konchar hours after acquiring him and Cody Williams from Utah in a trade that sent Josh Green's expiring $14.68M salary to the Jazz, clearing room to complete Jonathan Kuminga's signing.
Aaron Turner, agent for Jonathan Kuminga, said on FanDuel TV's 'Run It Back' that Minnesota offered his client stability but framed next summer's free agency as a stronger opportunity, naming the Kings and Bulls as teams with cap space.
Aaron Turner, who represents Jonathan Kuminga, said on FanDuel TV's 'Run It Back' that the Lakers, Bulls and Blazers all pursued his client, and that Portland's proposal carried a higher player option than the one-year, $12.1 million deal he took in Minnesota.
+3Three late-summer money moves are pitched, none of them reported as under discussion. One would send Josh Green from Minnesota to Memphis for D'Angelo Russell and Kris Murray, saving the Wolves just over $3 million so they can complete Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $12.4 million deal.
Two free agents are off the board: Jonathan Kuminga is joining the Timberwolves and Bennedict Mathurin is going to the Pelicans. Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones broke down both fits on Yahoo's Dunker Spot podcast, including the shortcomings each move leaves behind. No terms were given.
A straight swap sending Josh Green to the Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt is the most common Green trade being built on HoopsMatic, per data cited alongside HoopsHype, with the Lakers appearing as his destination in 17.4% of them.
With Jonathan Kuminga off to Minnesota, the Lakers still have an open starting spot, and Yahoo's Jacob Rude lists five ways they could fill it: P.J. Washington, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Ben Simmons and internal option Adou Thiero.
