​Austin Reaves dribbles against Bruce Brown during a Lakers-Nuggets game. Brown has emerged as a potential veteran minimum option for Los Angeles if the team’s pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga falls through. GettyThe Los Angeles Lakers still view Jonathan Kuminga as their ideal starting small forward, but with negotiations appearing to lose momentum and the team’s cap flexibility now exhausted, the front office may soon have to pivot to contingency plans.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOne veteran who could quickly emerge as a logical fallback is former NBA champion Bruce Brown.After Sunday’s reports that the Lakers can now acquire Kuminga only through a sign-and-trade, Los Angeles appears increasingly likely to explore veteran minimum options should talks with the restricted free agent ultimately collapse.If Kuminga ultimately lands elsewhere, the Lakers won’t have many proven wings left to pursue.According to California Post Lakers beat writer Khobi Price, Bruce Brown is one of four unrestricted free-agent wings still available who could serve as fallback options for Los Angeles.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPrice also identified Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji as potential targets.Williams may offer the highest long-term upside after posting a career-best season with the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers reportedly showed interest after Brooklyn declined his $6.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent.Thybulle remains one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders, while Agbaji has continued to develop into a reliable three-and-D wing.But Brown arguably checks the most boxes for a Lakers team with championship aspirations.Austin Reaves drives past Bruce Brown during a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets game.Getty Austin Reaves dribbles against Bruce Brown during a Lakers-Nuggets game. Brown has emerged as a potential veteran minimum option for Los Angeles if the team’s pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga falls through.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Lakers built much of their offseason around becoming younger and more athletic alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.In the process, however, they lost one of their few veteran defensive leaders when Marcus Smart departed in free agency to join the Houston Rockets.Brown could help fill that void.The eight-year veteran appeared in all 82 regular-season games last season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal while continuing to showcase the defensive versatility that helped Denver capture the 2023 NBA championship.Although listed at just 6-foot-4, Brown routinely guards larger wings thanks to his 6-foot-9 wingspan, physical style and relentless motor.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOffensively, Brown thrives without needing the ball in his hands. His cutting, transition play and quick decision-making would fit naturally alongside Doncic and Reaves, giving the Lakers another intelligent connector