Sam Amick of The Athletic previously reported that Leonard had a staggering list of demands for the Lakers. Behind his uncle and infamous business manager, Dennis Robertson, Leonard wanted the franchise to meet lofty conditions before he would consider signing with the purple and gold:

• Part ownership of the team
• A private plane that would be available at all times
• A house
• A guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money

Robertson repeatedly demanded all these from Jeanie Buss, but the Lakers governor ultimately dismissed them due to obvious illegality under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Kawhi’s suspicious decision

What was once puzzling now makes sense regarding why he ended up choosing that destination. In the end, Leonard joined the Clippers on a three-year, $103.1 million contract. At that time, no one knew that both sides had a handshake agreement that would create headlines across the NBA six years later.

New revelation in the investigation

After fully exposing Leonard and the Clippers’ ties to Aspiration through a dummy $28 million endorsement contract, investigative journalist Pablo Torre recently revealed another crucial detail, adding a new dimension to the case surrounding the star forward.

According to Torre, Leonard apparently has another hidden channel to receive off-the-books money from the Clippers. Daktronics, the manufacturer of Los Angeles’ scoreboard, has a secret multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with Leonard.

The Clippers commissioned Daktronics for $100 million for the construction of the famous “Halo Board” at Intuit Dome, raising questions about how much Leonard earned through this secret deal with the electronics company.

On Friday, Anthony Slater contributed to a piece on ESPN updating where things stand regarding Kuminga and the Lakers. “The opportunity appealed to Kuminga, but the sign-and-trade contract offer (years, money, package going back to Atlanta) didn’t satisfy all sides. The Lakers remain interested in him, league sources said, but movement toward a deal has remained stalled for weeks.”

It was previously reported that negotiations between Los Angeles and Kuminga had stalled. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that this stalemate continues. The Lakers, as Slater reported, remain interested and have continued calling to inquire about the talented forward.

Lakers will keep pursuing Kuminga

While this Kuminga free agency has been long and tiring for fans, it is all part of the negotiations. Remember that the Lakers are not the only ones interested in Kuminga.

The Hawks reportedly want a first-round swap, Kuminga wants a deal that he is enticed to sign, and Los Angeles’ alleged contract offer has not accomplished that. Until all parties can agree, this will continue to drag on. Ultimately, though, this is Kuminga’s decision.

While a sign-and-trade would bring him the greatest financial benefit, he is an unrestricted free agent and can choose his destination. Information regarding his possibilities will likely remain the same for now, and he must decide what he wants to do.

The Lakers can offer Kuminga the opportunity to start on a team with title aspirations. If he plays well in the purple and gold jersey, it could greatly boost his reputation in the NBA.

Dan Woike of The Athletic relayed Doncic’s email message to fans regarding his offseason health progress. “I took a real break from basketball the first few weeks after the season ended to rehab my body. My recovery went great, and I’m 100% healthy again,” Doncic wrote.

“Taking some time away from basketball is something I do at the start of every offseason. It’s a different way to do things, but it works for me. When I let myself miss the game a little bit and try some new things, it only makes me more excited and motivated to get back to playing.”

Doncic’s recovery

Doncic went through a difficult stretch where injuries sidelined him from the court last season. He notably went down with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain near the end of the NBA regular season, disappointingly hurting the team’s title odds and halting his MVP-caliber year in which he led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per game.

Due to the severity of the injury, Doncic was forced to travel to Europe to seek specialized medical treatment. Yet despite his efforts, he was still sidelined and could not play for the Lakers when it mattered most, leaving him with no choice but to watch the Lakers get swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

After the season ended for both Doncic and the Lakers, getting back to full health became the Slovenian star’s main offseason focus. As such, his full recovery should now provide the franchise with added optimism heading into next season.

Expectations and goals for Doncic are now even higher following LeBron James’ departure from the Lakers. With James gone, Doncic takes over as the team’s primary leader and sole superstar, looking to guide the franchise back to glory in the NBA.

However, it is still unclear if Thompson, who has one year left on his deal with the Mavericks, is looking for a way out of Dallas, according to The Athletic’s Christian Clark. “At this point, it remains unclear if Klay Thompson, the Mavericks’ leading 3-point shooter in each of the past two seasons, will be back in Dallas for a third year,” Clark reported.

“The Mavericks have explored his trade market but have yet to find a deal, multiple sources with rival teams told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss any potential negotiations. Thompson is owed $17.5 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.”

Why Thompson favors Los Angeles

The report adds that a specific factor draws Thompson to Los Angeles: his past. He spent part of his childhood in the area and already owns a home there, which would make adapting to the city simple.

“My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer,” Clark concluded.

Thompson has $17.4 million left on the final year of his three-year deal with the Mavericks. His production has remained steady, with Thompson averaging 11.7 points on 39.3% shooting, including 38.3% from deep in the 2025-26 NBA season.

Mavericks in no rush for a buyout

The Mavericks are reportedly in no rush to part ways with veteran guard Klay Thompson. While the Heat has expressed interest in acquiring the five-time All-Star, the franchise would prefer making a trade rather than reaching a buyout agreement, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“Dallas has no reason to want to buy him out and would prefer to find a trade for him. Klay would need to give up significant money in a buyout,” Siegel wrote on X.

According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the team could set its sights on Northern California to steal De’Andre Hunter from the Sacramento Kings. “Hunter is extension eligible, but as Sacramento retools, the franchise needs to wait and see before making any further hefty commitments. The Lakers can help get the team immediately under the luxury tax with a combination of Vanderbilt, Knecht, and Hardy (or LaRavia),” wrote Pincus.

Hunter is a former lottery pick who has shown flashes of being a strong three-and-D player over the years. He’s been wildly inconsistent from season to season and has struggled to stay on the floor at times, but he’s also tailor-made for JJ Redick’s system and what the Lakers need at forward, making him potentially the perfect alternative to Kuminga.

What the Kings would need to consider

Sacramento would have to accept a combination of players the Lakers are clearly finished with and trying to move away from. Knowing that, it might not be an easy sell. The Kings would look at a combination of Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and Jaden Hardy.

It was made clear that Hunter is a fallback option and not a priority. Perhaps a fresh start with a contender could help the Lakers easily get over the idea of Kuminga if the team ultimately ends up missing out, but the Kings won’t let him go easily either.

Hunter’s NBA career trajectory

Hunter started his career with the Atlanta Hawks. He spent six NBA seasons there, appearing in 300 games. The veteran forward posted averages of 14.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.8% from three.

In 2024-2025, the Hawks sent Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was traded after playing 43 games with the Cavs, just one year after the initial trade. Hunter left Cleveland after averaging 14.1 points and 4.2 rebounds, making 35.2% of his shots from three.

Hunter appeared in just two games for the Kings last year. For the time being, he is expected to spend the 2026-2027 season in Sacramento. This season, Hunter is set to make $24.9 million before becoming a free agent in 2027.

However, the Minnesota Timberwolves have also recently expressed interest in Kuminga, per HoopsHype, but operate under financial restrictions of their own. The Timberwolves have access to a $6.06 million taxpayer mid-level exception, but the Lakers have a higher financial offer and a longer contract on the table.

Minnesota missed out on LeBron James and still has the power forward slot open for a player of Kuminga’s caliber, a situation similar to what the Cavaliers are facing. This means that despite potentially offering the better basketball fit, the other two teams are understood to be ahead, which could prompt the Wolves to make a greater push. Furthermore, Minnesota presents an intriguing project alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.

Kuminga entangled in controversy

Kuminga‘s path in the NBA has not been smooth. Kuminga arrived at the Atlanta Hawks after being traded alongside Buddy Hield by the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.

He signed a two-year, $46 million deal with the Warriors at the end of last season after holding out for a number of weeks. A similar situation has arisen this time around, with Kuminga understood to be unwilling to commit long-term on a deal that he deems less than what he is worth.

While he initially demanded a contract worth $20 million annually, he is also reportedly unwilling to sign a three-year deal, which is a required condition for any sign-and-trade agreement under NBA rules. This further complicates matters for the Cavaliers, who need a sign-and-trade to complete the acquisition.

On the other hand, Kuminga reportedly turned down a two-year, $20 million offer from the Lakers, which still leaves them as the most likely destination of the three. This is because the Timberwolves cannot offer that same amount, and Kuminga’s camp is understood to be remaining patient as they wait for further movement in the free-agent market.

According to Jake Fischer, Kuminga does not want to be “boxed into” a three-year contract for an amount he deems below his market value. Furthermore, the Lakers already offered a two-year, $20 million deal, which Kuminga reportedly declined as he waits out the market for a more lucrative proposal.

“I have been repeatedly told by league sources familiar with the teams’ dynamic that the Lakers and Hawks never held meaningful discussions on a sign-and-trade proposal that would have landed Kuminga with the Lakers in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick swap,” Fischer wrote. “It has also been stressed to me that Kuminga, to this point in free agency, isn’t looking to be boxed into a three-year structure (as required by league rules to complete a sign-and-trade) at a number he deems below his market value.”

Complications mounting for the Lakers

Kuminga has once again become the subject of a drawn-out offseason saga after the Atlanta Hawks declined the $24.3 million team option on the former Golden State Warriors star. While the Cavaliers and Lakers have maintained consistent interest, both teams reportedly require a sign-and-trade proposal, which league rules dictate must be a three-year contract.

League sources indicate Cleveland has not backed away from its pursuit even after recent roster additions, while the Lakers remain interested if Kuminga becomes willing to accept a contract structure that aligns with the organization’s finances. Cleveland, already hard-capped at the NBA‘s first apron, would need to acquire Kuminga through a sign-and-trade. However, the squad has struggled to construct a package that Atlanta would find acceptable.

Cavaliers and Lakers lead pursuit

Cleveland’s financial situation continues to influence other roster decisions, including contract negotiations with James Harden, whose contract is expected to include no more than two fully guaranteed seasons as Cleveland attempts to stay below the second apron for a second consecutive year. Cleveland has also shown reluctance to sacrifice future assets such as Max Strus or Dennis Schroder in its attempt to acquire Kuminga.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles reportedly wants Kuminga to step in as its starting small forward if a deal can be finalized. However, with Kuminga unwilling to sign a three-year contract and choosing to hold out for a better offer than the two-year deal Los Angeles presented, little progress has been made.

“The market for 23-year-old wing Jonathan Kuminga is not what he hoped it would be. Atlanta did not pick up the team’s $24.3 million option for this season, Kuminga hoped he could find a team willing to pay him around that number in a new, multi-year deal. No such luck,” NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin wrote.

“The offers out there were more like the Cavaliers still offering the rest of their mid-level exception this season (a little less than $8 million) or the Lakers offering two years, $20 million total.”

Kuminga has become a diamond in the rough this offseason, not only because of his age but also because of what he can offer to the teams interested in him. Will he take his talent to the Western Conference, or will he instead move to Cleveland?

Where would Kuminga fit best?

While Jonathan Kuminga has familiarity with Cleveland’s head coach Kenny Atkinson from their time in Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers would represent a significantly better overall fit for his projected role in the 2026–27 NBA season.

LeBron James’ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers would eventually give Kuminga a bigger role in LA, where Luka Doncic is currently the main star. Conversely, Cleveland’s recent acquisition of Mario Hezonja creates a crowded wing rotation alongside Donovan Mitchell, where Kuminga would likely be relegated to a secondary off-ball role in a slower, guard-centric system.

Kuminga’s numbers with the Hawks

After being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2026, Jonathan Kuminga posted solid production in a limited sample size. Across 16 games with the Hawks, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while playing roughly 23 minutes per night.

“You’re not ring chasing when you’re the guy that creates rings,” Fisher said on Derek and Decker on 97.1 The Fan. His comment clearly echoed Shaquille O’Neal’s recent support for James before LeBron announced he was joining the 76ers on a two-year deal.

While James hasn’t faced overwhelming backlash, despite taking a significant pay cut, figures like Magic Johnson are still eager to see what he can accomplish alongside Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.

Fisher compares James to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Fisher even compared LeBron’s career moves to those of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won six NBA titles across two different franchises. James has also won titles with multiple teams, securing four rings across three franchises: Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.

“Go back in NBA sports history… Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He didn’t chase rings. Where he went, rings followed,” Fisher said of Abdul-Jabbar, who earned his six titles with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers during a 20-season career from 1969 to 1989.

Fisher won all his rings with one franchise

Although Fisher is defending James, it is worth noting that Fisher won all five of his NBA championships with a single franchise: the Lakers. While he played for other teams like Utah, Dallas, and Golden State, his championship success came exclusively in Los Angeles.

“There’s 2012 Lakers potential where this looks awesome on paper… You have LeBron who’s 41… Embiid, who never plays. And Jaylen Brown on a new team trying to fit his way. There’s an unhappy version of this,” Simmons said on his podcast.

Simmons’ quote quickly went viral, with Yahoo Sports picking up the story. It isn’t just a hot take, it’s a stark warning of how wrong things could go for James in Philadelphia, where even figures like Magic Johnson are wondering how the Sixers will adapt to a 41-year-old superstar.

Why is Simmons comparing the Sixers to the 2012 Lakers?

In the summer of 2012, the Lakers added two-time MVP Steve Nash and prime defensive powerhouse Dwight Howard to a core that already featured Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace. Sports Illustrated famously featured them on the cover with the headline, “NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.” They were instant championship favorites.

But it wasn’t just on-court friction. The 2012 Lakers were plagued by coaching drama. Head coach Mike Brown was fired after a 1–4 start. Instead of bringing back Phil Jackson, the clear favorite of fans and players alike, management hired Mike D’Antoni, whose fast-paced system clashed with an aging, heavy frontcourt.

Simmons isn’t alone in his skepticism. Former NBA shooter Danny Green noted that stacking a roster won’t solidify James as the GOAT. Critics argue that pairing Embiid with the former Laker could create a volatile dynamic. With so many big personalities on one team, a single injury, much like Steve Nash’s in 2012, could instantly derail Philadelphia’s season.

How the 76ers can avoid the 2012 Lakers’ fate

Philadelphia can’t afford to play desperate basketball in January or February. With LeBron James turning 41 and Joel Embiid’s extensive injury history, Nick Nurse has to treat the regular season like a marathon.

Prioritizing rest, monitoring minutes, and letting younger legs like Tyrese Maxey handle the night-to-night scoring load through the winter will be critical to ensuring their superstars reach April healthy.

According to ClutchPoints‘ Brett Siegel, the Lakers now stand as the sole remaining suitor for the young forward. While the Cavaliers theoretically remain in the hunt, Hezonja’s arrival fills a key wing spot and consumes some cap space.

Siegel anticipates a sign-and-trade between the Lakers and the Hawks involving Jarred Vanderbilt to secure Kuminga, giving Los Angeles a clearer path to the 23-year-old. However, Joe Vardon of The Athletic previously reported mutual interest between Cleveland and Kuminga, suggesting a deal with Los Angeles is far from certain.

Potential candidate in pursuit of Kuminga

While primary attention remains on the Cavaliers and Lakers, Jake Weinbach—who also views the Lakers as clear candidates and the Cavs as clear pursuers—noted that another team could enter the mix. “The Bucks shouldn’t be ruled out as a potential sign-and-trade destination, either,” Weinbach stated.

Mutual interest between Kuminga and Cavaliers

Kuminga is reportedly interested in playing for Cleveland and reuniting with Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, who previously worked with him as an assistant on Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors staff.

“Jonathan likes the Cavs, likes Kenny Atkinson, and Donovan Mitchell likes him,” Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, told Vardon. Kuminga also spent part of the 2025 offseason training in Cleveland, while Turner is from Northeast Ohio, providing further connections between the player and the organization.

Kuminga is seeking a contract worth approximately $20 million to $23 million annually, close to the value of the option Atlanta declined. Neither Cleveland nor Los Angeles can offer him that salary outright, making the Hawks’ cooperation necessary.