​The Sporting News originally ran a piece predicting the Celtics would outbid the Lakers for a $46 million Warriors castoff. If you’d like to read that analysis on The Sporting News, you can add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics’ baffling offseason move of trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks may raise eyebrows, but the front office can take comfort in a significant upgrade to the frontcourt by adding Mitchell Robinson. The former New York Knicks rebounder enjoyed a season where he controlled the boards with remarkable consistency and emerged as a standout on the championship franchise’s second unit.
Are the Celtics done making moves? Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale suggests Boston could outbid the Los Angeles Lakers for a versatile 6-foot-7 former Golden State Warriors player, creating a high-energy wing with potential star upside. Favale notes that Celtics president Brad Stevens has prioritized adding rim pressure this offseason, a strategy that partly explains Boston’s flirtation with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Favale contends that using a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception on a Jonathan Kuminga bid could be a prudent move. He highlights Kuminga’s 5.08 rim attempts per 75 possessions last season, a figure that would have been the second-highest on Boston among their non-big men, just behind Jaylen Brown’s 5.20. While Kuminga cannot be counted on for consistent spacing, Boston’s roster does feature other shooters to help open the floor for his drives and for isolation opportunities. The Celtics would still be wagering on his continued development as a rebounder and defender, but Kuminga did show improvement in those areas last season.
As for the Lakers, who have shown serious interest in Kuminga but have yet to finalize a deal, Boston would likely have a legitimate chance to land him in unrestricted free agency if they pursue him. Kuminga has the athletic, downhill practicality to thrive as a slasher who can finish above the rim. On the shooting end, however, his three-point percentage has wobbled, staying under 35% from beyond the arc for a third straight season. Kuminga’s perimeter defense has also been inconsistent, marking him as a player who is far from a finished product.
Still, that uncertainty doesn’t eliminate the Celtics’ potential to take on the challenge of molding Kuminga, a Democratic Republic of Congo native known simply as “Goma,” into a well-rounded contributor. If Boston believes in his upside, the risk could be worth it.
More NBA headlines to watch: the Warriors are now aware of the asking price for a Bronny James–Lakers trade, Spurs being predicted to outbid the Warriors for a $101 million Lakers star, and Luka Dončić sending a pointed message to the Lakers about a roster they can’t ignore. This coverage is designed to support better SEO and broader readership.