Crafting a Jonathan Kuminga Three-Team Sign-And-Trade Involving The Hawks, Clippers, and Grizzlies

Some more offseason dominoes fell this week in what was the most active week for the NBA in the month of August.

Dallas opted to buy out Klay Thompson's contract to allow him to sign with the Miami Heat, DeMar DeRozan signed with the Denver Nuggets, and in the biggest move, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson in a multi-team sign-and-trade that saw Max Strus head to the Clippers, the Nuggets land draft capital, and the Wizards acquire Tre Mann.

The final move was significant for the Atlanta Hawks because they reportedly had been a team that at one point, had shown interest in acquiring Watson from Denver, and because the Clippers and Cavaliers had been teams that showed interest in Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga. With this deal, it makes it far less likely that either Cleveland or Los Angeles is going to be a serious player for Kuminga, and the options for his next team are dwindling.

Other teams that have shown interest in Kuminga include the Lakers, Timberwolves, and Bucks. Unless Kuminga takes a significant pay cut, the only way he can join these teams is by way of a sign-and-trade. If teams are interested in putting together a sign-and-trade, it has to be a deal that the Hawks find suitable.

While those teams have been linked to Kuminga, what a surprise team comes to make an offer for him?

Here is a trade where that happens.

The Trade

Atlanta receives: Derrick Jones Jr, Brook Lopez, a 2029 2nd round pick (from MEM, via POR), a 2030 2nd round pick (from MEM, via DEN, HOU, or MIA), and a 2033 2nd round pick (via MEM)

Memphis Receives: Jonathan Kuminga (three-year, $60 million deal), a 2028 2nd round pick (from LAC, via DAL), a 2031 2nd round pick (via LAC), and a 2033 2nd round pick (via LAC)

Clippers Receive: Corey Kispert, Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr, GG Jackson, and a 2027 1st round pick (least favorable of NOP and MIL, top four protected, via ATL)

Why this trade happens

Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

I think this is a trade that the Hawks would agree to, even if it means sending out the first round pick they hold in 2027.

For starters, this would allow Atlanta to send off its worst contract in Kispert and free up more money in the future. Jones Jr would give them another elite perimeter defender, and they might have the best collection of perimeter defenders in Dyson Daniels, Luguentz Dort, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jones Jr. He is also on an expiring contract.

While Lopez is clearly not the same caliber of player he used to be, he could give Atlanta a viable option as a third center, who happens to be on an expiring contract. Right now, Atlanta has Onyeka Okongwu, Jock Landale, Zuby Ejiofor, and Henri Veesaar as their options at center. Lopez would give them a veteran player who could step up in a backup role should either Okongwu or Landale be injured, and let Ejiofor and Veesaar take a developmental year.

The most important thing, besides the potential on-court benefits, is the fact that both Lopez and Jones Jr would come off the books next offseason. Atlanta is already projected to have a lot of camp space due to the amount of expiring money they have, and it would give the Hawks further optionality when it comes to making a potential trade for a star or having a lot of cap space to work with next summer.

The Hawks would still have to trim their roster to 15, but that would be easier to do with Kispert off the team.

For the Clippers, they are clearly in rebuilding mode and this would give them a shot at a Top Ten Draft pick. The 2027 pick that would be the worst of New Orleans and Milwaukee, but it is top-four protected, limiting the upside, but for a team that is acquiring first round picks in various trades it has made, this is another one that could give the Clippers a young talent or something they could move in a trade for more established talent.

Hendricks, Clayton Jr, and Jackson have shown flashes of talent in their respective NBA careers, and both Hendricks and Jackson are on expiring contracts. They would not have to be long-term bets for the Clippers, unless they really impressed during the season.

Memphis is in a really good position due to the amount of draft capital they have acquired from dealing Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr, plus the young talent they already have including Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, and Zach Edey. They could take a chance on Kuminga to see if he meshes with this core and at worst, he could turn into a tradeable salary.

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