​The Los Angeles Lakers spent this offseason dismantling much of a 53-29 core and rebuilding around two players, rather than three. Only Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remain from the group that defeated Houston in the opening round before being swept by Oklahoma City in the next series. Nearly everyone else has either moved on or, like LeBron James, remains in limbo in free agency. The front office pursued a broader retooling plan, trading for Walker Kessler, shipping Deandre Ayton to Washington, and adding a brigade of role players that expanded the roster to fourteen names. With one roster spot still open, the Lakers are not treating it as an afterthought.
Rui Hachimura signed a two-year deal with the crosstown Clippers instead of staying in Los Angeles, leaving the Lakers without the long, athletic forward who filled their power forward role for most of the season. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin outlined how seriously the front office is approaching that final slot on NBA Today, noting that the Lakers view this last opening as a crucial piece to their envisioned puzzle. They’re actively selling opportunity: come here, play on the sport’s biggest stage, and you may need to accept a pay cut for a year or two, but you can eventually cash in on bigger contracts.
The coveted name behind that opportunity is Jonathan Kuminga, who is a free agent for the first time after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million option. The Lakers are reportedly the favorites to sign him. Kuminga, 23, was the seventh overall pick in 2021 and already owns a championship ring from his rookie year with the Warriors. He split last season between Golden State and Atlanta, posting averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 36 games, and he helped the Hawks reach the playoffs with a 46-36 record before their first-round exit.
Despite his youth, Kuminga has drawn continued interest from teams because of his length, athleticism, and versatility on defense—the kind of player the Lakers lost when Hachimura departed for the Clippers. He finishes above the rim in transition and can guard multiple positions, attributes that would complement a lineup anchored by Doncic, who led the league in scoring last season, and Reaves, who recently secured a four-year extension. That trio could provide Kuminga with cleaner, easier scoring opportunities than he would have found creating offense on his own, particularly next to a premier passer in Doncic and a high-usage shot creator in Reaves.
The Lakers’ calculus is to gamble on a short-term pay cut in the present for a longer-term payoff down the road, a strategy reminiscent of Malik Monk’s eventual market value several seasons later. If Kuminga signs, it would likely involve a sign-and-trade that sends Jarred Vanderbilt and the team’s only movable first-round pick back to Atlanta, allowing the Lakers to maneuver within their limited cap space. The bet hinges on Kuminga’s potential and the belief that he can unlock a higher ceiling playing alongside elite talents in Los Angeles.
Beyond Kuminga, the Lakers’ offseason remains anchored by the reality of limited cap room and the need to maximize impact with remaining resources. They are betting that a short-term reduction in compensation can yield a lasting return in the form of added wing alignment, athleticism, and defensive versatility. If Kuminga joins the fold, the Lakers would hope to establish a dynamic, multi-position lineup capable of accelerating their growth as a threat on both ends of the floor. As the clock ticks toward the season, the question remains whether this final roster piece — the proverbial missing link — will unlock the full potential of a revamped Lakers squad or if further adjustments will be necessary to compete at the highest level.