Momentum has slowed in the Lakers’ chase of Jonathan Kuminga, and the sign-and-trade path is looking more complicated than it did a few weeks ago.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Los Angeles and Atlanta remain far apart on the framework of a possible deal, and the Lakers are not especially eager to send out major draft compensation just to get something done. That said, the door is not shut.
Woike describes Kuminga as the “biggest upside play” still available to the Lakers this offseason, and says the team could circle back if the market continues to move slowly. Cleveland has also been linked to Kuminga.
Kuminga landed in free agency after Atlanta passed on its $24.3MM team option for next season. Because no team has enough cap room to give him the kind of contract he wants, a sign-and-trade is his clearest route.
Even then, the fit is murky. It’s unclear how much Atlanta wants to keep him, especially after the club added Luguentz Dort in a three-team trade on Sunday.
The Lakers are also keeping tabs on Matisse Thybulle. Woike confirmed a recent report from The Stein Line that Los Angeles has interest in the defensive wing, and he pointed to the obvious concern: injuries.
Thybulle has appeared in only 45 games over the past two seasons. Still, Woike notes that he finished last season healthy and could be a cheap three-and-D piece if the Lakers decide to pounce.
Team sources also told Woike that the front office wants to add another big man.
Another name to watch is Arthur Kaluma. Woike says the Lakers may need to move fast if they want to lock him into a two-way contract before another team gets there.
The 6’7″ forward spent last season with the organization’s G League affiliate and turned heads in Summer League, putting up 18.6 PPG while shooting 60.9% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc. Woike adds that current two-way players Chris Mañon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder could be moved out, though Okereke earned praise from the coaching staff for his defense and shooting.
There’s also some uncertainty around the Lakers’ front office setup. Scouts in Las Vegas were wondering when president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka plans to name his second assistant general manager, Woike reported.
Rohan Ramadas was brought in in May to lead the team’s analytics department, and Pelinka said after the season that he also wants someone in place to oversee player development and scouting. The Lakers started interviewing candidates during the season, but league sources told Woike there has been outside confusion about how the process has unfolded.
Minnesota’s Steve Senior and Philadelphia’s Prosper Karangwa are believed to have turned down offers from Los Angeles in order to stay with their current teams.
In Other News...
Hawks Fans Just Got A Brutal Reminder About Their No. 1 Pick
The latest reminder for Hawks fans came from an odd bit of roster trivia around the league, where the Mavericks and Wizards now each have three No. 1 overall NBA draft picks on their books after recent trades. Dallas group includes Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg and Zaccharie Risacher, a collection that says as much about the churn of the modern NBA as it does about how quickly a teams long-term plans can change.
For Atlanta, the part that stings is less about the number and more about what it says about Risachers place in the picture. The Hawks moved on after his role had been reduced, and he barely featured in the 2026 playoffs, leaving a former top pick to become part of another teams talent pile rather than a centerpiece in Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Kingston Flemings Is About To Face His First Real Hawks Test
Kingston Flemings already got a taste of what the Hawks saw in him at summer league, where the No. 8 pick flashed the kind of skill set that made him such a high selection. Now the real work begins. Atlanta is bringing him into practice with the main squad, and the daily reps should tell the team a lot more about how quickly he can handle NBA speed, pressure and physicality.
Luguentz Dort gives Flemings one kind of problem, with his championship-tested edge and relentless defense. Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker bring their own complications, too, which is exactly why these sessions matter for a young guard trying to settle in. For a player like Flemings, the Hawks are not just looking for highlights anymore. They are looking for how he responds when every possession in practice feels like a test. [Read more 🡒]