This isn't a new idea. The Lakers and Hawks reportedly first discussed a Kuminga sign-and-trade nearly two months ago, and the talks stalled because Atlanta didn't want to add salary while sitting close to the luxury tax line. Now, per Legion Hoops citing basketballtalk, the framework is being dusted off with Hardy as the centerpiece heading to Atlanta.
The Lakers and Hawks are in active discussions on a sign-and-trade that would send Jaden Hardy to Atlanta, and Jonathan Kuminga to LA, per @basketballtalk (h/t @LADEig)
Kuminga has been one of the stranger free agency sagas of the summer. He hit unrestricted free agency after his Warriors tenure ran its course, reportedly wanting over $20 million a year, and that number has barely budged despite the market staying quiet on him all offseason. LA pitched him early on a real, high-minutes role, and that apparently landed the way the Lakers hoped.
The catch is structural. A sign-and-trade requires a 3-year deal with team options rather than player options, which means Kuminga would lose control over his own timeline even if the total money clears his market value. That's a real sticking point for a 23-year-old who wants to bet on himself long term.
Atlanta's side of the math hasn't gotten easier either. The Hawks are reportedly only a few million below the tax line, so absorbing money in this deal likely pushes them into it unless they can offload a piece to a third team. Reports have also suggested the Hawks want more than just Hardy to make the numbers work, which is why this has dragged for two months instead of getting done.
For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious. Kuminga is a 23-year-old athletic forward who's shown flashes of real two-way upside, and pairing him with the current roster would immediately upgrade the frontcourt depth around the stars. Hardy, meanwhile, is a promising young scorer LA would be giving up, so this isn't a one-sided ask by any stretch.
Nothing is finalized, and by most accounts the deal still has real hurdles to clear on both sides before it becomes official. But with training camp creeping closer, both front offices have real incentive to either get this done or move on for good.