The Lakers had no choice but to rebuild their roster this offseason. After a 4-6 postseason record and LeBron James’ departure, the front office needed to surround Luka Doncic with capable names. The first step came when Austin Reaves signed a long-term deal. LA then made a few trades and even sought a move for Jonathan Kuminga. Although it didn’t pan out the first time, they’re determined to get it done this time, but it’ll come at the cost of Doncic’s pal.

The Lakers and Hawks are in discussions for a sign-and-trade deal (again) involving Kuminga. But this time, LA guard Jaden Hardy is part of the negotiations instead of Jared Vanderbilt, according to BasketballTalk. The change in player names appears to be strictly financial.

Hardy will earn $6 million this season, which is considerably lower than Vanderbilt’s $12.4 million. This difference matters because the Hawks have only $3.8 million left until the luxury tax and certainly do not intend to trigger it.

This financial factor stems from Atlanta’s refusal to exercise Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option earlier in the offseason, making it clear the player realistically was worth a contract around the mid-level exception instead. Brian Windhorst, NBA insider at ESPN, was also clear about this on his Hoop Collective podcast.

“Watch the Wolves in the next couple of days, it’s still open,” Windhorst said. “There’s still a window for the Lakers to do a Kuminga sign-and-trade. A sign-and-trade has to be three years.”

Windhorst is correct about the structure that stands against LA. Any sign-and-trade deal will bind Kuminga to a three-year deal without any player option, which is something that Kuminga has been reluctant to commit to, considering he believes that his value is bound to increase.

Importantly, the Hawks already have 17 players on their roster without Kuminga. Adding Hardy complicates not only their finances but also their roster logistics. It is difficult to foresee this deal simply going through unless at least a third or fourth party is involved to balance assets.

That gives the Timberwolves an opportunity to sign Kuminga to about $6 million of their MLE without a sign-and-trade deal, and allows him to join a team that already has players such as LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. They could genuinely be a dark horse here if Kuminga agrees to the money part.

Meanwhile, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin explained why there is a risk for the Lakers in signing Kuminga, even though the player reportedly “likes the idea” of being in LA.

“Kuminga wants to be a scorer,” Helin wrote. “He’s wanted the ball in his hands. In Los Angeles, where Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have the ball, will he fit into the system and play a role?”

It is crucial to note that the Lakers are putting someone Doncic likes on the line for Kuminga, who didn’t necessarily have a good past with the Golden State Warriors. Hardy and Doncic previously spent nearly three seasons together as Mavericks teammates, including the 2023-24 Finals run.

Hardy has called Doncic “my guy,” chose jersey No. 7 in part because of Luka’s 77, and reached out to him immediately upon joining the Lakers. The Mavericks required Hardy’s floor spacing, and so do the Lakers. Doncic’s friend is also a much better shooter and more experienced than someone like Bronny James.

The 24-year-old averaged 9.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1 assist while shooting nearly 40 percent from the three-point line in Dallas and Washington last season. Hardy was also part of the Slovenian minicamp that Luka Doncic organized to build team chemistry and get some work in before the preseason schedule.

Meanwhile, Kuminga played four and a half seasons with the Golden State Warriors, was relegated to the bench under coach Steve Kerr, and was traded to the Atlanta Hawks due to the same conflict between his personal aspirations and the team’s existing structure.

This is precisely why losing a recently acquired, likely Doncic-approved team member makes such a big impact on a LA franchise still trying to find its identity.

LA has already taken a big gamble in overhauling its roster this offseason. LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes are all gone from the Purple and Gold, while the new additions include Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton, among others.

That kind of dangerous turnover just makes any remaining familiar face more valuable going into training camp, especially since the Lakers continue to look for players who can help their three-star lineup find success in the next playoffs.

With Kuminga, the Lakers would be making a swing on upside rather than safety, and they actually tried to keep his asking price low by offering him a deal worth $10 million a year before free agency began. But the player declined it.

While the Kuminga situation is far from over, it is worth remembering Rob Pelinka’s promise to Luka Doncic before the Slovenian put pen to paper on his 3-year, $165 million contract extension.

“Promises were to give him a locker room full of his type of players, to find him replicants, if not improvements, of the balanced roster he made a finals run with in Dallas in 2024 before the stunning trade that sent him west,” Dan Woike of The Athletic wrote.

Now, trading away someone as familiar as Hardy contradicts all of the above. Yes, the Lakers would be bringing in a better-proven NBA player in the short-term, but the clock on winning a championship with Doncic is also ticking…

Literally no one can stop Doncic from walking away from the Lakers after his player option through the 2028-29 season if he isn’t kept content.