​The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for one last move in NBA free agency, with Rob Pelinka crafting a distinctive pitch to attract new talent. After a sweeping overhaul of their roster in the offseason, the Lakers have moved on from every player except Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Following a flurry of signings, they sit with one open roster spot and a fresh, unconventional plan to attract another star.
According to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, the Lakers aren’t planning to leave their final roster slot open for the sake of future flexibility. As things stand, Los Angeles is eyeing Jonathan Kuminga, though they don’t yet possess the financial means to offer him a deal without making additional moves to create salary-cap space.
There is one vacant roster spot remaining, but the Lakers don’t intend to keep it open as a hedge for the trade deadline. Some teams use an empty seat to preserve optionality for potential two-for-one trades or to target a buyout candidate. That approach isn’t how the Lakers want to operate. They view this final slot as a critical piece in their broader puzzle.
One player less than certain to be on their radar is Kuminga. At the moment, Kuminga is unattached, and the Hawks previously declined their option on him for $24 million this season. The Lakers don’t currently have a comparable offer to make, so they will likely need to maneuver to create room. That could involve orchestrating a trade or packaging a few second-round picks they acquired from Washington in the Ayton deal, or including players like Dalton Knecht or Jarred Vanderbilt to free up cap space and present Kuminga with a more attractive proposition than a veteran minimum.
During a recent appearance on ESPN, McMenamin shared more about the Lakers’ plan to court Kuminga by appealing to him with a compelling path forward. He described how the Lakers are marketing a clear opportunity: join a team with the biggest stage in basketball, contribute on a championship chase, and potentially take a temporary pay cut to pave the way for a much larger contract in the future. The model is reminiscent of Malik Monk’s earlier path with the Lakers, where taking a modest early arrangement allowed him to later accumulate substantial earnings across his NBA career.
The Lakers are betting that Kuminga, and perhaps other players, will be enticed by the chance to play alongside Luka Dončić, showcase their talents on a grand stage, and increase their market value after a short stint with the franchise. The core question remains whether this strategy will yield results. It hinges on whether players are willing to sacrifice immediate salary for a potential long-term payoff, and on whether the Lakers can restructure their roster in a way that makes a compelling case to Kuminga or any other top target.
The bigger narrative is about the Lakers attempting to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term flexibility. They want a final star to slot in beside Dončić and Reaves, a player who can contribute immediately while also leaving room for growth and future earnings. The strategy is bold, relying on the allure of a high-profile platform and the prospect of a lucrative return down the line, rather than offering a straightforward, market-leading contract today.
Whether this approach will pay off remains uncertain. The market for Kuminga and other potential targets is highly competitive, and teams may be more inclined to lock in offers that fit within their cap constraints without exposing themselves to further maneuvering costs. The Lakers’ plan may hinge on convincing a player to accept a temporary financial trade-off for the chance to maximize earnings in the years ahead, a bet that could define their trajectory for the upcoming season and beyond.
In the end, the Lakers’ final move will test Rob Pelinka’s ability to craft a persuasive pitch and to manage the delicate balance between immediate contribution and long-term value. If Kuminga or another marquee target bites, the Lakers will solidify their core around Dončić and Reaves, potentially altering the league’s power dynamics and signaling a new chapter for a franchise eager to reclaim its perch atop the NBA.