The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be working on a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga since this year's free agency period began.
As soon as it appeared that a deal was close to being completed, there wasn't much talk as to where the two sides were. The Lakers, still needing improvements around the margins - particularly at the forward position - went out and made a signing, and it wasn't Kuminga.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "Free agent forward Ziaire Williams has agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers," seemingly addressing a major need in LA.
While most would expect this to eliminate them from the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes, other reports, and intelligent assumptions, would suggest otherwise.
Lakers still have interest in stealing Kuminga from Hawks
In a follow-up to his initial report, Charania made sure to note that Los Angeles will continue to strongly pursue the 23-year-old forward.
If anything, the signing of Ziare Williams makes it even more likely they aggressively look to finalize their wing room. It was a major problem for them last season, and these adjustments would likely do just enough to improve their roster in pursuit of contention in the incredibly tough Western Conference.
It now seems that if it's not the Lakers - or the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could ramp up Kuminga conversations if unable to land LeBron James - there's a chance he'll be forced to return to Atlanta on a cheaper, short-term deal.
The most realistic option is that he signs elsewhere, but he won't be able to do it alone. None of his few suitors have nearly enough cap space to just pick him up at his expected annual value.
If Kuminga goes elsewhere, for anything higher than a low exception, it'll likely have to be in the form of a sign-and-trade. That is, unless, another suitor comes out of nowhere and makes an enticing deal.
Hawks have limited roster space to facilitate sign-and-trade
In order to make salary work, for most suitors, they'll need to send players to Atlanta, or re-route them in an expanded or future deal.
The thing is, though, that the Hawks are already at 16 rostered players after signing all three of their rookies - Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar - to standard contracts.
Jonathan Kuminga has plenty of potential to contribute highly to a winning team, and whether it's in Atlanta, or most likely Los Angeles, he'll have an opportunity to shine.
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