Lakers, Cavs circle as Jonathan Kuminga seeks $15 million more than reported offer

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Jonathan Kuminga is a polarizing free agent -- apparently even to his own negotiating team.

NBA insider Jake Fischer has now reported a pair of very different dollar figures in recent days as it pertains to the former Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks forward, who is now a free agent being pursued by the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Fischer reported earlier in the week that the Lakers are looking to give Kuminga a deal for two years and $20 million total -- $10 million per year.

But in a new update on Thursday, Fischer reported that Kuminga wants a deal that pays him $25 million per year.

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Which in the case of a two-year deal would be $30 million more than the deal the Lakers' apparently have on the table.

To be clear: Said on yesterday’s show Jonathan Kuminga is looking for “more in” the $25 million AAV ballpark compared to the Lakers’ previously-reported 2/20 offer. Not “more than.” And Kuminga is also open to various deal structures depending on fit and role with Lakers, Cavs,… https://t.co/9xKQChObZy

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 10, 2026

That's a huge disparity, and it's hard to see how it can be bridged in the short term.

It leaves the vibe of last offseason, when Kuminga wanted much more from the Warriors as a restricted free agent than he ended up getting.

This time around, Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent, which should conceptually help his chances. But he's still lingering even after a bunch of free agents have signed. It clearly seems like there's some disconnect.

Fischer's reporting clarifies why there's an issue. Kuminga wants way more money than he's being offered. It's going to be a staring contest until he finds a way to work way down toward a compromise.