2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

He won’t fire his agent. Did anyone see Trevor Lane’s video where he posted an interview from Aaron Turner (Kuminga’s Agent).

I’m paraphrasing but when Kuminga’s agent was asked what he thought about Steve Kerr’s comments that JK should focus on being an Aaron Gordon or Shawn Marion type forward, he said that those players couldn’t create advantages on ball and had to attack off close outs and the such. whereas Kuminga can create advantages on ball and that’s where his value comes from.

He also made the comment that players of lesser talent have to focus on doing all the small things right, whereas players with bigger talent like Kuminga can afford to have those things hidden because of how good they are elsewhere. He also made comments that Kuminga defends and rebounds better when he has larger minutes, touches and a clear role.

Both he and Kuminga, see him as a star that’s just waiting for his chance to break out. So I could see him taking a smaller contract elsewhere with the goal of showing what he can do and turning that into a larger, longer contract.

 

i've watched hardy some. he's just a bad defender. he can shoot, but he's not really a "movement" shooter. like, you don't see him sprinting off pin downs and turning and drilling threes that much. it's mostly catch and shoot or pull up. he's a pretty good ballhandler, but he doesn't have nba-level explosion, so he can't really score in isolation very well. i just don't know that there are many places that can use his skillset these days. i mean, cam thomas is like the super-charged version, and nobody wants him.

 

Agents need to

Agents need to stop being GMs and acting like they are scouts. And just do the contracts and deals.

facts if you cost me 75 million or 150 million. You’re a bad agent. It’s about the money f*** all that other s***.

Kerr shouldn’t be referring to what Kaminga should be when it comes to his contract. You stick with the we’d love to have him back. And he’s a great player. And we love what he does.

id be pissed if I was Kaminga to. f*** that I ain’t no Shawn Marion or Aaron Gordon. I’m a bucket. I can score I’m more like Kawhi.

you just don’t feature me. There’s gotta be a middle.

but yeah that’s like them saying Ayton is Capella. You never lower your value or ability.

like saying your gonna be setting my screens and rebounding for me.

Like the s*** doesn’t work like that. He’s a f***ing idiot agent piece of s***. Who shouldn’t be doing contracts. But Kerr needs to coach. And I would tell my client don’t put up with that s***. But I would also tell him accept the 75 million or 150 million anything over 50 million we have to take because of earnings and career.

he had a knee injury after he turned that down. I never am a let’s bet on self b*******. You get paid when you can and you get as much as you can.

 

The problem is you better get money when that money is raining. Cause owners are drying it up. Kaminga ain’t gonna get what he thought he would.

75 million is 75 million. You take that cash. Now Reaves didn’t take it and exceeded to 180 million.

but you can either be Austin Reaves or Dennis Schroeder. That 75 million is still 75 million.

ask Demarcus Cousins. one injury can do that. I get Kaminga thinking I’ll get a max.

he looked at it like I’m being lowballed and I’m not getting paid because yall aren’t showcasing me in this offense. At least pay me if I have to be in this motion offense predicated around Curry.

See I think the Luka offense is different. He’s looking for more cutters lob guys at the rim. Curry is more motion find guys off of the catch and shoot.

they predicated to Jimmy Butlers game and worked around him. They never did that for Kaminga. So Kaminga really is like f*** Kerr.

Luka the way he plays it meshes well with Kaminga. If you like to roll cut at the basket lob and jump. Freestyle with your own jump shot. sometimes. That’s what Luka likes. Athletic players athletes.

the Lebron thing was tough because Lebron likes to handle the ball even though they made it work. Kaminga doesn’t handle the ball he needs the ball given to him.

the Lebron curry thing could’ve worked cause Curry could’ve gone off ball catch and shoot.

so sometimes this basketball stuff is just fit and how players play.

 

Its unfortunate but the league has always been like that. A team or coach can kill a player base on role or team needs and not really your overall skills. Over the years we have seen a number of players not liking roles and its driven by money. ex a player that comes off the bench may not earn starter money. A player thats asked to play a specific role may not get to shine and become a star. Kuminga may be great but no team is looking at him as a star level player so if he wants to stay in the league and have a steady income he may need to look at what team needs and what he can do to fill those needs. Ayton is an example he has to change his mindset as he is no longer viewed as an all star franchise player. a number of players adopt and some dont. Lopez was an all star level big and adopt to becoming a roe playing big that shoot 3s a number PF moved to playing center. You cant force teams to playing you the way you view yourself. Howard leaned that the hard way and was out the NBA before returning and winning a title as a role player. I kuminga dont play the role someone else will. Austin is an example of getting a golden opportunity, Last season Goodwin. We may have killed Dalton who was on track to be a solid player. So it all depend on the player and the situation they are in.

 

The difference with Austin and Kuminga Lakers were high on Austin and love him as a person on top of that. Austin also was not happy in a bench role. Johnathan didnt have that same relationship and backing with the owners. So while both players are 23ppg ish players with opportunity. Austin could have afford to playing it in a bigger role. Jonathon role was not clear. Started just 46 games once so was mostly a reserve. Turning down the money was odd being in that situation.

 

I agree with you, the media praises the guys who bet on themselves and land bigger contracts, but what they dont show is when it backfires and those players end up making 10% or 20% of the original contract offer, due to an injury or a dip in form.

 

I don't feel sorry for any of them. I understand getting what you can but they all get paid quite well. Work on your game, play ball and let the chips fall where they may. I've never taken a job strictly for the money. As long as I can take care of my family and enjoy being helpful to others I'm good. To each his own though.

 

Isiah Thomas.

 

Dwight Howard never worked on his game. All athleticism. Never developed a post game. Never developed a three. Demarcus Cousins had a better skilled game than him.