The Lakers’ offseason reset has been dramatic, and it may not be done yet.
Los Angeles has already moved into a new era after last season, with all five starters from its playoff series against Houston no longer on the roster. The biggest departure, of course, is LeBron James.
He told the Lakers he plans to continue his career somewhere else, and ESPN reported that “LeBron James will return for an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA -- but it won't be with the Los Angeles Lakers. James has informed the Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday,” ESPN wrote.
Even with that kind of turnover, the Lakers are still hunting for another major piece, and the name drawing the most attention is Jonathan Kuminga.
“There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure Kuminga’s commitment as their new wing addition,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
Kuminga is on the market after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option for the upcoming season. ESPN reported, “The Atlanta Hawks are declining Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million team option, making him a free agent.
Kuminga, who will turn 24 before next season, played in 16 regular-season games for the Hawks after joining the team via trade in February, averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes. The trade was the result of a summerlong contract feud with the Golden State Warriors that followed years of discontent over his role on the team,” ESPN wrote.
For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious. Kuminga’s downhill burst from the wing and his ability to space the floor would give Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic another versatile scorer to work with. He’s also expected to look for a solid offer before making a decision, which means Los Angeles may need to get aggressive if it wants to land him.
That’s the question now: how far will the Lakers go to make Kuminga their next addition? All signs point to real interest, and if they get it done, it would be one of the clearest signs yet that this roster makeover is built to keep moving fast.
In Other News...
Hawks Suddenly Hold Real Leverage In Growing Jonathan Kuminga Trade Talks
The Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes have started to get more interesting for Atlanta, even if the Hawks are not yet the obvious landing spot. The Lakers are reportedly exploring a sign-and-trade for the Warriors forward, with Dalton Knecht mentioned as part of the conversation, and Atlanta could wind up involved if the deal turns into a broader three-team framework. For a Hawks front office that has been willing to stay active around the margins, that at least creates the possibility of turning a star-chasing negotiation into something that benefits their own roster-building plans.
Nothing is close to being finalized, and the whole situation still sits in the speculative stage, but the Hawks suddenly have a seat near the center of the table. Lakers executive Rob Pelinka has already been in contact with Kumingas agent, and Los Angeles has enough contracts and draft capital to keep working different angles. If Atlanta is going to facilitate anything, it will need to make sense on its own terms, which is where the real leverage comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Offseason Winners And Losers Just Sparked A Bigger Debate
Atlantas offseason has already given Onsi Saleh a pretty clear footprint, with the Hawks keeping CJ McCollum, Jock Landale and Mouhamed Gueye in place while also bringing in Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter and adding Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar in the draft. It is the kind of roster churn that invites instant grading, especially in a market that is always trying to figure out whether the front office is building for now, for later, or a little of both.
Kris Risacher is still on the roster despite the trade chatter that swirled around him, and the new mix around him could end up mattering more than any single move. The bigger question now is whether Atlanta has actually created the kind of environment that helps him settle in and grow, or whether the Hawks are still one unresolved roster decision away from changing the whole conversation again. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks May Be Watching One Last Impact Move Slip Away
The Hawks have been linked to Trey Murphy III as they continue searching for ways to add another impact piece around their core, but the path to getting him looks increasingly narrow. New Orleans has every reason to value a versatile wing like Murphy, and Atlantas interest has run into the kind of trade market reality that usually slows these conversations before they get serious.
Murphys price tag is part of the problem, and the Pelicans front office is also operating with an eye on future assets and flexibility. If New Orleans keeps leaning in that direction, Atlanta may simply have to move on and look for a more realistic upgrade elsewhere, even if Murphy had been the type of swing worth monitoring. [Read more 🡒]