The New Orleans Pelicans are searching for ways to upgrade their roster this offseason, and one of their top targets is Jonathan Kuminga. While adding Kuminga would be a significant boost for the Pelicans, the team faces major hurdles due to its current salary-cap situation.
With most of their roster locked into big contracts, the Pelicans would need to get creative with trades to clear enough space for Kuminga, who is expected to command a substantial deal.
Pelicans Face Major Salary-Cap Obstacle in Pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga
According to a report by Jake Fischer on The Stein Line, the Pelicans are interested in Kuminga, but making a deal happen is far from straightforward. Fischer notes that New Orleans would have to navigate complex salary-cap gymnastics to fit Kuminga into their payroll, especially since the team is determined to avoid the luxury tax.
“I’ve confirmed that the Pelicans hold an interest in Kuminga, but various team salary cap experts have pointed out to me that New Orleans has no easy route to take Kuminga on its books at his desired contract range,” Fischer wrote. “The cap gymnastics needed to keep the Pelicans out of the luxury tax… which has been a perennial priority for ownership… are described as considerable.”
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Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2025
Complicating matters, Kuminga is a restricted free agent, which gives the Golden State Warriors significant leverage in negotiations. While there have been reports of tension between Kuminga and the Warriors, that does not change the fact that Golden State controls his rights for now.
Kuminga could benefit from a fresh start with a team that is not under as much immediate pressure to win a championship. The Pelicans, who are building for the future, could offer him a better fit in that regard. Still, the Warriors have little incentive to simply let Kuminga walk, and New Orleans would likely need to put together a compelling trade offer to acquire him.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans have already made some roster moves this offseason, trading away CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk to acquire Jordan Poole. That deal left the team with fewer expendable contracts to move, making it even harder to clear salary for a player like Kuminga. There is some irony in the idea of the Pelicans acquiring Kuminga by sending Poole back to the Warriors, especially given Poole’s history with the franchise.