​Jonathan Kuminga remains the Lakers’ primary target on the wing as Los Angeles pursues sign-and-trade avenues and other roster-building strategies to shape the team around Luka Doncic. In Chicago, the Lakers’ front office continues to push to add Kuminga in a busy offseason that has already seen significant upheaval. The summer began with LeBron James informing the franchise he would not return for a ninth season, prompting a rapid overhaul that kicked off with a landmark sign-and-trade deal involving Walker Kessler, a move that sent away most of the Lakers’ future draft capital.
Despite broad changes and a newly revamped roster designed to maximize Doncic, the Lakers still face a need at the forward position. Kuminga has emerged as a top offseason priority, with reports indicating he is the player the team most covets at the wing spot. Kuminga, 23, has been closely linked to the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had been widely viewed as the frontrunners to land James. While talks between Kuminga and the Lakers are ongoing, the free agent forward has not yet accepted an offer that satisfies him.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, Kuminga is seeking a deal with an average annual value well above the $15 million mark currently on the table, potentially closer to $20 million per season. That reckoning represents a key point of negotiation as both sides continue discussions that have stretched for more than a week, though a formal agreement has not yet been reached. The Lakers’ primary appeal to Kuminga, as noted by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, is the opportunity the club can offer—an environment designed to showcase his development and give him a prominent role. Kuminga, however, has stressed the importance of receiving a contract that reflects his value and upside, rather than simply a quick arrangement.
Both teams have remained engaged in dialogue throughout the process, with the Lakers emphasizing the chance to play a central role in a Doncic-led system and to contribute to a roster that could maximize Kuminga’s strengths. Yet while the interest endures, a formal agreement has yet to be reached as the sides navigate salary terms and the best path to a signing or sign-and-trade that aligns with Kuminga’s expectations and the Lakers’ broader strategic goals. As the negotiations continue, Los Angeles remains focused on building a competitive, long-term framework around Doncic, with Kuminga perched as a key piece in that plan.