As the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes drags on, the Atlanta Hawks can sit back and rest on the fact that they don’t have much to lose. It’s clear that they don’t want Kuminga that badly, and they don’t have to make any sign-and-trade they don’t want to. And at this point, they should completely cut the Los Angeles Lakers out of the conversation in favor of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In a deal with the Lakers, the Hawks would likely have to take back Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract. They absolutely should not do that. So, rather than continuing to go back and forth with them, they should solely focus their attention on the Cavs and Wolves, should Kuminga actually be interested in joining those teams.
Both teams have much better packages to offer than LA, and neither would have to send the Hawks any bad money that goes past this season.
Hawks should trade Jonathan Kuminga to Cavaliers or Timberwolves
Taking on Vanderbilt’s contract wouldn’t be the end of the world. It only extends into the 2027-28 season, and by then, it would be an expiring the Hawks could trade. But there’s just no need for them to add it to their books.
Instead, the Hawks should simply turn to the Cavaliers and Timberwolves, both of whom have reportedly shown at least some sort of interest in trading for Kuminga this summer.
In the case of the Cavaliers, they could send back Max Strus in a sign-and-trade. Strus is a solid 3-and-D player who could actually play for the Hawks.
Plus – and this is the most important part of the equation – despite making $16.7 million this season, he’s on an expiring contract. Atlanta wouldn’t have to worry about taking on long-term money. Cleveland could throw in a second or two as well.
Then, there’s the Timberwolves. They don’t have many picks to trade, but they could send the Hawks Josh Green’s expiring contract that is worth $14.8 million.
And if the Hawks want more than that, they could try to push the Wolves to include Jaylen Clark in the deal, who would be a nice piece for the Hawks to take a swing on.
Either way, both of those teams have better, more financially sound packages to offer Atlanta than the Lakers do with their deal headlined by Vanderbilt (even if they did include a first-round pick swap).
The Hawks should ignore the Lakers and focus on dealing Kuminga to the Cavaliers or Timberwolves instead.
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