The Lakers have spent much of the summer trying to reshape the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and one of their clearest needs has been easy to spot: a wing who can help on both ends.
Jonathan Kuminga has already surfaced as a target. NBA reporter Evan Sidery said, “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,”
But Kuminga wasn’t the only name tied to Los Angeles. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Lakers were also in the mix for NBA champion Luguentz Dort before Atlanta stepped in and finished the job.
“Several teams expressed trade interest in acquiring Dort before he was traded to Atlanta, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
The Hawks ultimately landed Dort in a three-team deal that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. ESPN’s Shams Charania laid out the full return for Oklahoma City and the rest of the pieces in the swap.
“The Thunder traded All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort to the Hawks in a three-team deal that sent three second-round picks to Oklahoma City, 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta on Sunday.Oklahoma City has now acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron and shedding $200 million this offseason via the trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins,” Charania wrote.
For the Lakers, Dort would have checked a lot of boxes. He brings defensive bite, toughness, and enough offensive value to fit on a roster that already has plenty of scoring. That’s part of what made him such an appealing target.
Dort is on an $82 million contract, which only adds to the appeal in a market where dependable two-way wings are hard to come by. Missing out on him is a notable hit for Los Angeles as it continues to build for the immediate future.
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Hawks Suddenly Look Like East Risers But One Roster Decision Looms
The Hawks summer took another meaningful turn in the three-team deal with Oklahoma City and Dallas, a swap that brought Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta while sending Zaccharie Risacher to the Mavericks and giving the Thunder a haul of second-round picks and added flexibility. For a team trying to climb in a crowded Eastern Conference, the move has already changed the way Atlanta is being viewed, with the roster upgrade feeding the sense that the Hawks are no longer just trying to hang around the playoff race.
Even with the added optimism, there is still some housekeeping to do. Atlanta is carrying 17 players and has to get down to the regular-season limit of 15, which means more movement is coming before opening night. The trade may have nudged the Hawks outlook upward, but the front office still has a decision to make on how to balance the final roster and whether the current group is the one it wants to carry into the season. [Read more 🡒]
How Onsi Saleh Landed Lu Dort Without Paying Atlantas Expected Price
The Hawks did not have to pay the kind of premium many around the league expected to land Lu Dort, and that is a meaningful win for a front office trying to stay flexible while upgrading the roster. Onsi Saleh and Atlanta had to navigate a market that included multiple teams with interest in Dort, but the eventual price came in without a first-round pick attached, a sign the Hawks were willing to be patient and disciplined rather than panic into a bidding war.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious. Dort brings the kind of defensive edge that can change a second unit, and he is expected to come off the bench while still giving the Hawks a real presence on that end of the floor. The move also says something about how Saleh wants to build this team, using timing and leverage to target a player who fits, even if the rest of the league was circling the same name. [Read more 🡒]