The Cleveland Cavaliers remain active in their pursuit of free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, and that interest is reportedly shaping another significant offseason decision involving veteran guard James Harden.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Cavaliers’ continued efforts to acquire Kuminga are directly influencing the structure of Harden’s expected new contract. Cleveland is reportedly expected to limit any agreement with Harden to no more than two guaranteed years as the organization works to maintain financial flexibility while staying below the NBA’s second apron.
Fischer reported that Kuminga remains a priority for the Cavaliers despite several roster moves already completed this offseason.
“A contract between Harden and Cleveland, meanwhile, is still expected to max out at no more than two guaranteed years, league sources say. Projecting the specific salary number remains fluid given the Cavaliers’ ongoing interest in Jonathan Kuminga and their determination to stay out of the second apron for a second successive season.
What’s clear in Cleveland: Even after the signing of Mario Hezonja, sources with knowledge of the Cavaliers’ thinking insisted Monday that they continue to maintain Kuminga interest.”
Cleveland recently shifted its focus toward Kuminga after LeBron James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers rather than return for another stint with the Cavaliers. However, landing the 23-year-old forward remains far from straightforward.
According to Fischer, Cleveland’s salary-cap situation presents the biggest obstacle.
“The problem: Cleveland’s lack of available salary-cap space means it would require a sign-and-trade to add Kuminga. And sources say that the Cavaliers, because they are already hard-capped at the first apron, have found it challenging to assemble a trade construction that Atlanta would find suitable.”
Lakers, Hawks continue to complicate Cavaliers’ Jonathan Kuminga pursuit
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The report added that Cleveland has been reluctant to include additional draft compensation in potential deals involving Max Strus or Dennis Schröder, even though moving one of those contracts would create greater financial flexibility.
Fischer also reported that the Atlanta Hawks have expressed interest in Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, but Cleveland has shown little willingness to move its starting big man despite those inquiries.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers remain another team monitoring Kuminga’s market. Fischer reported that Los Angeles would like to sign the forward and install him as its starting small forward, but only if both sides can agree on contract terms.
He added that meaningful sign-and-trade discussions between the Lakers and Hawks have not taken place and that Kuminga is hesitant to accept a three-year sign-and-trade contract below what he believes is his market value.
Despite the slow-moving negotiations, Fischer reported there remains optimism within Kuminga’s camp that additional suitors could emerge later in the offseason. For Cleveland, that uncertainty makes maintaining financial flexibility a priority, explaining why the Cavaliers’ pursuit of Kuminga is influencing multiple roster decisions, including the expected structure of Harden’s next contract.