The Cleveland Cavaliers and unrestricted forward Jonathan Kuminga are “mutually interested” in bringing the former No. 7 overall pick to Ohio, multiple league sources told Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
According to the report, Cleveland began exploring a deal with the 23-year-old soon after LeBron James committed to the Philadelphia 76ers. Kuminga already has a working relationship with new Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, who served as Steve Kerr’s lead assistant during their shared tenure with the Golden State Warriors.
Agent Aaron Turner, whose office is based in Cleveland, said the sides have remained in contact throughout free agency. “Jonathan likes the Cavs, likes Kenny Atkinson, and Donovan Mitchell likes him,” Turner told The Athletic, adding that Kuminga trained in Cleveland for two months during the 2025 offseason.
Salary-cap hurdles
The Cavaliers sit roughly $25.3 million below the first tax apron and just under $38 million beneath the second, per CapSheets.com. After operating above the second apron last season, the franchise is expected to avoid that level in 2026-27.
Cleveland can offer Kuminga a taxpayer mid-level exception starting at $6.1 million—$12.4 million over two seasons—which would hard-cap the club at the second apron while still leaving flexibility to re-sign James Harden. A larger offer would trigger a first-apron hard cap and could force cost-cutting moves, Vardon noted.
Kuminga is reportedly seeking a contract worth $20-23 million per year through a sign-and-trade, a figure that would require cooperation from the Atlanta Hawks, who declined his $24.3 million option in June.
Trade landscape
The Los Angeles Lakers have also been linked to the five-year veteran, but Atlanta is said to be “underwhelmed” by the Lakers’ proposals. Cleveland’s potential package—one that could involve players such as Max Strus or Dennis Schröder—has drawn more interest from the Hawks, according to Vardon.
A return to Atlanta has not been dismissed, though any reunion would likely come on a short-term deal.
Source: Hoops Rumors
