The Lakers’ search for a fifth starter has turned into one of the trickier puzzles of their offseason, and the focus has landed squarely on Jonathan Kuminga.
Los Angeles has been pushing hard to land the former Warriors forward, with the power forward spot proving tougher to solve than expected. Kuminga’s reputation around negotiations has made the process more complicated, but that hasn’t stopped the Lakers from staying active. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, they’ve already floated a sign-and-trade framework that would put roughly $45 million on the table.
“The Lakers have offered Jonathan Kuminga a contract via sign-and-trade that would pay him around $45 million. Los Angeles is willing to send Jarred Vanderbilt alongside draft capital to the Hawks for Kuminga, who must sign at least a three-year deal in sign-and-trade agreements," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
Any path to Kuminga looks like it would have to go through a sign-and-trade, and the real debate is what else the Lakers would have to give up. Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts suggested Bronny James could be part of that package, pointing to the guard’s shooting and untapped upside as reasons another team might take a chance.
“Bronny has room to grow, and some team could take a shot on him. The 6’2 guard has yet to crack the nightly rotation, but shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range in the NBA and being a plus-shooter in the G League should be enough for some team to offer a second-round draft pick for him. That alone could get a sign-and-trade done for Jonathan Kuminga,” Watts wrote.
James has already carved out a unique spot in NBA history after sharing the floor with his father, LeBron James, in his rookie season. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin noted that moment came after LeBron’s scoring milestone and then again in the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota.
“When LeBron James made history two seasons ago, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer, his eldest son, Bronny, was sitting courtside along the baseline. On Tuesday night, in the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron and Bronny made history by being on the court together,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote.
If Bronny were moved, he’d get a clean slate with Atlanta or another team that ends up with him. Even with limited minutes in Los Angeles, he’s shown flashes over his two seasons with the Lakers and has become a fan favorite in the city.
In Other News...
Lakers May Still Be Chasing Athletic Wing Help Before Camp
The wing market remains one of the more interesting dominoes left before camp, and a familiar name is now sitting near the center of it. Cleveland has been trying to land Jonathan Kuminga in a sign-and-trade, but the talks have been slowed by the contract side of the equation, which has pushed the Cavaliers to look at other athletic options who could still fit multiple roster plans around the league.
One of those options is Peyton Watson, whose situation has drawn sign-and-trade interest from several teams, including the Lakers. For a team still weighing ways to add length and athleticism on the perimeter, that kind of flexible trade candidate is worth monitoring, even if nothing is imminent. If the talks never come together, Watson could eventually reach unrestricted free agency in 2027, keeping this thread alive well beyond the current summer. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Walter Just Set A New Standard For The Lakers
Mark Walter is already sounding like the kind of owner Lakers fans have been waiting for, one who is willing to talk in the language of titles instead of just timelines. Fresh off taking over the franchise, he pointed to his experience with other sports teams and made it clear that the standard in Los Angeles is nothing less than contention, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves among the players he expects to help drive that push.
Walter also acknowledged that getting there will not be simple, which is part of what makes the message resonate. The Lakers have spent too much time talking about the next step instead of the next banner, and Walter promised that championships will return to Los Angeles under his watch, a declaration that instantly raises the pressure and the expectation around everything the franchise does next. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Frontcourt Hole Puts Luka At Center Of Next Big Decision
The Lakers still have a notable opening at starting power forward, and the search to fill it has lingered well into the offseason. After coming up short in their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, the front office has kept looking around the league for a frontcourt answer, with the market for bigger bodies now drawing as much attention as any splashier move.
One name that has surfaced is Dallas forward P.J. Washington, a player the Lakers have shown interest in as they try to firm up the lineup around Luka Doncic. A reunion would make sense from Doncics side, and his comfort with Washington is part of what gives the idea some traction, but there is still no agreement in place as the Lakers keep weighing their options. [Read more 🡒]