The Lakers are close to finishing their roster, but Jonathan Kuminga still hangs over the picture.
Los Angeles has already added Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Zhaire Williams, Collin Sexton, and Matisse Thybulle, giving Luka Doncic a much stronger supporting cast than the one the team started the offseason with. Even so, the expectation is that the Lakers will make one more move to get to the required 15-man roster.
That is where Kuminga comes back into the conversation. The Lakers have continued to be linked to the former Golden State Warriors NBA champion even after signing Thybulle on Monday, and he could still end up being the final piece if the team can work out the details.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said on the Herd Monday that a sign-and-trade deal worth $45 million over three years is not out of the question.
“I’ve heard that he's been looking for closer to $20 million AAV. It doesn't have to be exactly $20 million, but closer to that, north of $15 million,” Buha said on the Herd Monday.
"So I think there's a gap right there between the two sides in terms of what a contract would look like over three years. If they could find some sort of middle ground, maybe it's three years, $45 million. That's $15 million a year."
"It's not quite what he wants. It's more than the Lakers want to pay him.
Maybe that's a middle ground. But I think the Lakers are in a prime position to add him if they are willing to give up the draft capital to meet whatever Atlanta (Hawks) is asking for.
I think that part is realistic."
For now, though, a Lakers-Kuminga deal is far from guaranteed. The Hawks are interested in a sign-and-trade with Los Angeles, but the sides still have not landed on terms that work for both of them.
And the Lakers are not alone in the chase. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, the Milwaukee Bucks have now joined the Kuminga sweepstakes, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are also keeping an eye on the situation.
Kuminga, 23, would be a strong long-term addition for Los Angeles, but there is still a real chance the Lakers open the 2026-27 season without him.
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