Jonathan Kuminga’s free-agency stalemate has produced a proposed four-team blockbuster that would send him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade. Analyst Jake Weinbach floated the framework involving the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Atlanta Hawks.
The Four-Team Framework Weinbach Proposed
The proposal is not a completed trade, and nothing in the framework is official. Under Weinbach’s idea, Kuminga would arrive in Cleveland through a sign-and-trade.
- Cavaliers receive: Jonathan Kuminga via sign-and-trade and Royce O’Neale
- Hornets receive: Dennis Schroder and a 2033 second-round pick from Cleveland
- Clippers receive: Max Strus via a traded player exception and a 2032 second-round pick from Sacramento via Cleveland
- Hawks receive: Cash and a traded player exception generated by the Kuminga sign-and-trade to Cleveland
The framework uses multiple teams and trade exceptions to construct a path for Kuminga to Cleveland rather than a straightforward signing.
Why A Jonathan Kuminga Sign-And-Trade Is Part Of The Discussion
Teams around the NBA have spent much of their offseason budgets, leaving limited room for a direct signing. Brett Siegel of Clutch Points said no team has sufficient money to sign Kuminga outright, putting more attention on sign-and-trade possibilities.
The Hawks declined their $23.4 million team option on Kuminga after he was traded to Atlanta from Golden State. He put together a strong postseason showing there, notably defending Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart well when the Hawks faced the Knicks in the playoffs, a big reason Cleveland values what he could add defensively. Last season he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on .463/.333/.724 shooting splits.
Kurt Helin of NBC Sports reported that, based on reports, Kuminga’s target had fallen below $20 million annually while remaining above the $15 million midlevel exception. That salary range could work in the proposed Cleveland deal.
Why Cleveland Makes Sense For Jonathan Kuminga, With Limits
Cleveland has been among the teams involved in efforts to secure Kuminga’s services. The Cavaliers could offer him a starting role, which has been described as one of his preferences in a new destination. The move would also reunite Kuminga with Kenny Atkinson, the former Golden State Warriors assistant coach who now leads Cleveland’s bench.
Through a sign-and-trade, Cleveland could potentially offer Kuminga somewhere in the $15 million to $20 million annual range. The Cavaliers cannot go much higher because they are close to the second apron and still need to sign James Harden, who opted out of his own $42.3 million option earlier this offseason partly to help Cleveland’s since-abandoned pursuit of LeBron James. Once Harden’s new deal is finalized, Cleveland’s remaining room to meet Kuminga’s number shrinks further.
The Contract-Length Obstacle
Kuminga initially sought more than the $15 million to $20 million annual range in free agency. If he must take less money, he has indicated that he wants only a one-year deal.
That preference creates a complication because sign-and-trades require a three-year commitment. The Los Angeles Lakers were Kuminga’s preferred destination and showed interest in the former Warriors wing, but they cannot offer a contract in the salary range required by this proposed structure.
Until the questions around salary and contract length are resolved, Weinbach’s four-team framework remains a hypothetical route for Kuminga to reach Cleveland.
