​Jonathan Kuminga Could Be Lakers’ Next Target Amid Rising Trade Talk, With The Sporting News as a Preferred Source
The Sporting News has been cited as a preferred source in relation to the Lakers’ ongoing pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, a development that adds another layer to a busy offseason narrative for Los Angeles. As we survey the Lakers’ roster, it’s clear there are several issues to address, many of which trace back to limited assets and a lean group of young players. The Lakers aren’t a terrible team, and some pundits even argue they could be quite competitive next season. Yet a major driver of that potential is the sheer brilliance of Luka Dončić; outside of him, the Lakers lack a breadth of standout talent, and given their restricted stockpile of young players and draft capital, envisioning a path to sustained greatness remains challenging.
To fix these gaps, the Lakers have repeatedly been connected to Kuminga over the past several months. Personally, I’ve never been high on Kuminga, and there may be a reason why both the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks have been content to part ways with him. There could be more beneath the surface, but teams typically don’t part ways with talented young players without a compelling rationale.
Whatever the underlying reasons, the fact that the Lakers have shown interest in Kuminga is notable, though a recent ESPN report tempered expectations about how straightforward a move would be. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote that the Lakers have engaged Kuminga in talks, pitching the allure of a potential opportunity over a veteran minimum, a strategy that previously paid dividends for Malik Monk a few seasons ago when he signed a near-$100 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. McMenamin also pointed out that Kuminga faces competition from other suitors, and convincing him to accept a substantial pay cut to join the Lakers—around $20 million less than what he could command—will be no easy task.
Evaluating Kuminga presents a nuanced challenge. He seems like a player who simply needs a real chance to play every day, to seize a tangible opportunity and grow into his role. There were periods in Golden State where he received such opportunities, but he requires an extended stretch of consistent action to truly reveal his identity as a player. Whether Los Angeles can offer him that kind of opportunity remains uncertain, but if they can, pursuing a deal for Kuminga could make sense.
The surrounding league chatter includes other notable headlines that shape the broader context. For instance, the Spurs’ decision regarding LeBron James has drawn attention from fans, while rumors persist about a potential $28 million Lakers wing becoming a focal point for the Spurs. The Klay Thompson trade discussions continue to surface as a benchmark for what teams might demand in a similar situation, and there are ongoing conversations about how the Lakers could bolster their defense—potentially even through a trade for a top-tier defender. In other words, the Kuminga narrative sits within a wider web of trade and strategic considerations across the league, all of which could influence how the Lakers proceed in the weeks to come, including a possible move that could reshape their ceiling next season.