Lakers, Cavs, Hawks, and Bucks are rumored landing spots for $46 million NBA champion

The 2026 NBA free-agent market is still filled with a plethora of talented players who could be impactful pieces to a team this offseason, including forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Kuminga spent the first half of the 2025 season with the Golden State Warriors before being moved to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline. Through five seasons, the 23-year-old has shown a ton of promise as a hyper-athletic wing with immense defensive versatility.

Kuminga's Warriors tenure ended on a sour note, and he was inconsistent with the Hawks, leading the team to decline his $24 million team option. However, the 2022 NBA champion is still receiving interest from teams as he looks to find an opportunity for the 2026 season.

Lakers, Cavs, Hawks, and Bucks linked to Jonathan Kuminga

According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks have shown interest in signing Kuminga.

A return to Atlanta also can't be ruled out for the former No. 7 overall pick.

The Lakers have used most of their cap space this offseason, but they did free up a little bit more money by trading away Deandre Ayton. If Kuminga is willing to sign with JJ Redick's squad on a cheap deal, the 6-foot-7 wing would be an exciting addition to Los Angeles' rotation.

As for the Cavs, adding more wing play is a pressing need. Kuminga would add more offensive firepower to Cleveland's squad, and he could unlock the next level of his defensive game with the Cavs.

The Bucks are in rebuild mode, so if Kuminga wants to go somewhere that will give him a ton of playing time and a chance to revive his career, signing a one-year deal with Milwaukee would be a logical move.

Though re-signing with the Hawks is still a possibility for Kuminga, it doesn't make much sense for either side. Atlanta already has plenty of high-level wings, including All-Defensive guard Dyson Daniels, Most Improved Player of the Year Nickeil Alexander-Walker, All-Star Jalen Johnson, and the team just acquired NBA Champion Aaron Wiggins from the OKC Thunder in a trade.

Kuminga would get lost in the Hawks' rotation, and his next stop needs to be a place where he can earn consistent playing time.

Overall, Kuminga is garnering significant interest on the open market, so we'll see where the high-potential forward lands ahead of a make-or-break 2026 campaign.