An NBA playoff record of 4-6 has forced the Los Angeles Lakers into a complete roster reconstruction this offseason. But this roster reconstruction could cost them a player who has taken private flights and attended a Slovenian minicamp with Luka Doncic, building an early personal connection with the star.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks are once again in discussions for a sign-and-trade deal involving Jonathan Kuminga. This time, Lakers guard Jaden Hardy has become a part of their negotiations instead of Jared Vanderbilt, reports BasketballTalk on X. In the proposed structure, Hardy would head to Atlanta as part of the Lakers’ outgoing package to facilitate Kuminga’s arrival in Los Angeles.

Hardy and Doncic previously spent nearly three seasons together as Dallas 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.

Hardy will earn $6 million this season, which is a considerably lower amount compared to Vanderbilt’s $12.4 million, and this difference is important since the Hawks have only about $3.8 million left until the luxury tax limit and do not intend to increase their payroll.

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The reason for this financial situation lies in Atlanta’s refusal to exercise Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option earlier in the offseason, making it clear that the player had the right to a contract worth about the mid-level exception.

Brian Windhorst, NBA insider at ESPN, was clear about the issue on his Hoop Collective Podcast.

“Watch the Wolves in the next couple of days. It’s still open; 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 said.

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

That is allowing the Minnesota Timberwolves an opportunity to sign Kuminga to about $6 million of their mid-level exception without even doing a sign-and-trade deal, and allow him to join a team that already has players such as LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.

NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin explained why there is still a risk in signing Kuminga, even though he reportedly prefers to be a part of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Kuminga reportedly likes the idea of playing for the Lakers, who would start him at the four, as a better fit,” Helin wrote.

“But is he? Kuminga wants to be a scorer; 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?” Helin added.

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

This is precisely why the potential loss of a recently acquired team member will make such an impact on a Lakers franchise still trying to find itself.

Trading Hardy would mean parting with one of the few players who already shares on- and off-court history with Doncic, at a moment when the team is still forging chemistry after massive roster turnover.

Why trading Vanderbilt or Hardy carries real weight for Los Angeles

Losing either Vanderbilt or Hardy wouldn’t hurt quite the same way as other moves might have, with the amount of turnover the Lakers have seen since LeBron left during the offseason.

LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes are all gone from Los Angeles, while the new additions include Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton, among others.

That kind of 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 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.

This risk becomes even greater given that Atlanta already has 17 players under contract, and the team needs to reduce its roster size, not add more.