Cavaliers reportedly still battling Lakers for $46M NBA champion amid Mario Hezonja signing

The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the teams that went all in on LeBron James before he ultimately decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. With James off the board, Cleveland has shifted its focus to other options to strengthen its wing rotation.

The Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers are now among the leading teams pursuing Jonathan Kuminga in free agency. However, the race could ultimately come down to whichever team is willing to meet his contract demands.

“Jonathan Kuminga is demanding a salary in free agency exceeding $20 million annually, per The Athletic. Kuminga prefers a sign-and-trade from the Hawks over leaving outright, simply due to the added financial implications. The Cavaliers and Lakers are the finalists for Kuminga,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.

On Sunday, the Cavaliers addressed the wing position by signing former first-round pick Mario Hezonja.

“EuroLeague star Mario Hezonja has agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, agent Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management told ESPN. Hezonja -- the No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft -- receives an opportunity to revitalize his NBA career entering his sixth season in the league after last playing in 2019-20. He is set to play a key wing role for the Eastern Conference finalists,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.

Following the signing, many assumed Cleveland was out of the running for Kuminga. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the Cavaliers remain very much in the mix for the NBA champion.

“The Cavs are still in the game for Jonathan Kuminga. I've talked to his agent. He does see a really good fit in Cleveland. I listen to the pathways the Cavs have to get him and I don't think they're realistic. That said, if you'd told me seven weeks ago that the 76ers would have Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, I would have not thought that was realistic,” Windhorst said.

The Cavaliers and Lakers remain in a difficult position because the Atlanta Hawks are already over the roster limit, making a sign-and-trade the most likely path to acquiring Kuminga. It is also believed that Kuminga prefers to join either Cleveland or Los Angeles, depending on which team is willing to meet his contract demands.

Kuminga played last season on a contract worth approximately $46 million. Despite adding Hezonja, the Cavaliers still believe they have a legitimate chance to land Kuminga. The Lakers have been pursuing him for more than a month, but Cleveland continues to view itself as a serious contender in the race for the talented forward.

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