The Los Angeles Lakers could lose Austin Reaves for nothing when the star guard becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Similarly, the Golden State Warriors could let Jonathan Kuminga walk as a free agent next year — if the Congolese forward picks up his $7.9 million qualifying offer for the 2025-26 season.
To ensure neither team loses a key piece, Fadeaway World proposed a trade that would simply swap Kuminga for Reaves, helping both West rivals in the process.
Lakers would receive: Jonathan Kuminga (sign-and-trade)
Warriors would receive: Austin Reaves
“This trade idea is contingent on Kuminga’s eventual contract value. If the forward agrees to a sign-and-trade deal equivalent to the Warriors’ most recent offer, the Warriors’ may need to supplement this deal by adding draft capital. Should the forward accept the qualifying offer, a direct swap could be more feasible.”
How the Trade Helps Lakers
Kuminga, 22, could prove to be the perfect long-term replacement for Rui Hachimura, another player on an expiring deal, or even LeBron James, who is expected to depart from the Lakers in 2026. The exits of both James and Hachimura would leave the Lakers’ front court in shambles, especially if the experiments of Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia don’t pan out. While Kuminga has yet to prove himself as a future All-Star in the NBA, he has shown enough flashes of a quality rotational piece.
Kuminga could also blossom under the mentorship of James, Fadeaway World argued.
“The young forward boasts incredible potential, and has positioned himself as a potential All-Star. He possesses tremendous physical tools, athleticism, and agility. Apart from his natural gifts and talent, Kuminga has displayed a versatile offensive skill set and impressive shot-creation ability.”
“Although his perimeter shooting and defensive contributions leave more to be desired, it is hard to overlook what he could bring to the table. Under the guidance of Lakers superstar LeBron James, the 22-year-old could transform into a lethal offensive threat.”
Kuminga, Warriors Remain at Odds
With just a few days left for training camp, the Warriors and Kuminga remain at odds over a contract extension. According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, the Warriors were unhappy with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, leaking details of the team’s conversations with other teams exploring potential sign-and-trade deals.
“They weren’t happy with that,” Poole said on the “Dubs Talk” podcast, referring to Turner’s decision to go public with internal negotiations. “But I think the more pertinent factor is the fact that training camp is so close now, and that stirs a little bit of activity. Now you have an incentive to get something done and you don’t want the nightmare scenario where you open media day and there are nine guys there. You don’t want that. The Warriors don’t want it.”
The Warriors reportedly initially offered a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option, which Kuminga turned down. Subsequently, Golden State offered a three-year, $75.2 million contract with a player option in the third year, only to be shot down. According to multiple insiders, Kuminga prefers a player option on the final year.