The Lakers are still working the phones, but the path they choose could say a lot about how they want to finish this offseason. Jonathan Kuminga has been one of their top targets from the start, yet the price tag is getting uncomfortable fast.
NBA reporter Evan Sidery said Kuminga is asking for more than $20 million per year in free agency and would prefer a sign-and-trade from the Hawks rather than walking away outright because of the financial implications. Sidery also said the Cavaliers and Lakers are the finalists for Kuminga.
That’s where things get tricky for Los Angeles. The team has salary cap constraints to deal with, even after already putting an offer on the table.
According to Sidery, the Lakers’ sign-and-trade proposal would pay Kuminga around $45 million, with Jarred Vanderbilt and draft capital going to the Hawks. Sidery added that Kuminga would have to sign at least a three-year deal in any sign-and-trade arrangement.
If that route gets too expensive or too complicated, Los Angeles has another wing option on the board: Max Strus. The Cavaliers sharpshooter is reportedly available, and the Lakers have been linked to him as a more manageable fallback.
Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden wrote that the Cavaliers are open to moving Strus as they look to create the financial flexibility needed to make an addition of their own. Ogden also noted there is a realistic path for the Lakers to land him, calling out Strus’ postseason experience and two-way value.
From a basketball fit standpoint, Strus makes a lot of sense. He’d give the Lakers another dependable floor spacer, and playing next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would likely create a steady stream of open looks. Just as important, it would cost Los Angeles far less than a Kuminga deal.
In Other News...
Bulls Could Use Lakers Rumor To Start A Smart Roster Reset
The Lakers have spent the offseason circling the center market as they look to add depth around their stars and keep one eye on roster and contract flexibility. With Walker Kessler already in the fold and Kevon Looney signed, the front office still appears to be testing the trade market, and Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt have both surfaced in different conversations as movable pieces while Los Angeles tries to sharpen the edges of the roster.
One of those discussions has linked the Lakers to Chicago in a way that could matter well beyond the headline. The Bulls, who have been weighing their own direction, could view Los Angeles interest as a useful starting point for a broader reset, especially if the deal framework gives them a young scorer and another piece to work with. For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious: keep the rotation balanced, add another frontcourt option, and avoid clogging the books while the team tries to stay competitive at the top. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Wing Search Keeps One Familiar Name In Play
The Lakers have kept their focus on adding wing help, and Klay Thompson remains one familiar name tied to that search. Thompson, who signed with the Mavericks in 2024, is coming off a season in which he averaged about 12 points per game, and his rsum still makes him an obvious fit for teams looking to add shooting and experience on the perimeter.
What complicates the picture is how Dallas handles him and how the Lakers shape the rest of their offseason plan. The Mavericks would prefer to trade Thompson rather than buy him out, and Los Angeles interest may end up being linked to its efforts to land Jonathan Kuminga, leaving one of the leagues most recognizable veteran wings in a situation that still has a few moving parts. [Read more 🡒]