Jonathan Kuminga’s free-agency choice was supposed to settle one of the bigger questions of the offseason. Instead, it left behind a little extra noise for the Lakers.
After a long stretch of rumors, Kuminga opted for the Minnesota Timberwolves over Los Angeles, even though the Lakers had been widely viewed as the favorite to land the 23-year-old forward. The process dragged on, got messier, and even required the Lakers to complete a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks to bring in the athletic wing.
Kuminga ultimately landed in Minnesota alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, but his first comments as a Timberwolves player raised eyebrows. At his introductory press conference, he was asked why he chose Minnesota over the other options in free agency - in other words, why he passed on the Lakers.
His answer centered on the “winning culture” in Minnesota, a line that stands out given that the Timberwolves have never won a title, while the Lakers own 17 championships, second-most in NBA history. Five of those titles, of course, came in Minneapolis, with George Mikan leading the way.
From a basketball fit standpoint, Kuminga would have made sense in Los Angeles. He would have stepped right into the starting lineup next to Luka Doncic and filled an obvious need. But the comments he made in Minnesota suggest there may be more to this move than simple fit.
There’s also the question of what Kuminga’s path says about him as a player. The Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks both moved on from him long-term, and while a fresh start can change the way someone is viewed, two teams backing away from a 23-year-old is at least worth noticing.
For the Lakers, the bigger immediate issue is sorting out the starting lineup before training camp opens. Three starters from last season are no longer on the roster, and there are still a few spots that need to be nailed down.
Walker Kessler is locked in at center, and Quentin Grimes has a strong chance to start as well. The real uncertainty sits at power forward.
My read is that Sandro Mamukelashvili should get the nod at the four to start the season. He looks ready for the job, and he’s flashed real potential this summer while representing Georgia in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
That said, the Lakers do have other options if they want to lean more defensive, including Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Even so, Mamukelashvili feels like the cleanest choice right now.
JJ Redick still has time to sort it out, but there’s no question the preseason will be worth watching closely for this reshaped Lakers group.
In Other News...
Lakers Ownership Drama Just Added A New Layer Of Uncertainty
The Lakers off-court picture got even more complicated this week, with a major ownership transition moving forward at the same time the organization tries to keep its basketball operations steady. Mark Walter, the majority stakeholder, has agreed to sell the franchise, and the Buss family is also parting with its remaining stake while the team continues adding to the front office, including recent hires such as Rohan Ramadas, Eric Amsler and Keith DAmelio.
Jeanie Buss, though, is now legally contesting her familys decision to sell its share, giving the process another layer of uncertainty just as the deal heads toward the league approval stage. For a team that has already been trying to line up its next wave of business and basketball leadership, the dispute leaves one of the franchises most consequential transitions still far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Suddenly Have A Trade Watch Lakers Fans Wont Ignore
The Lakers are still working through their answer at starting power forward after missing out on Jonathan Kuminga, who landed with the Timberwolves, and the search now appears to include both internal and external options. One name that has surfaced is a familiar one across town: Derrick Jones Jr., the Clippers wing whose athleticism and defensive profile could give Los Angeles another look if the front office decides to get more aggressive.
Jones is also part of a situation worth monitoring because there is some belief he could push for a move to a preferred destination. If that happens, the Lakers would suddenly find themselves in a more interesting spot, since any willingness on his side to end up in Los Angeles could change the tone of a trade conversation and give the team a possible path to address a need it has not yet solved. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Draw New Disrespect As Doubts Grow Around Their New Era
The Lakers are still getting treated like a measuring stick around the league, even as they try to settle into a very different look heading into the new season. After a roster reset and a major shift in direction, they remain one of the NBAs most watched teams, with every comment about their outlook carrying extra weight because of how quickly the spotlight follows them.
Norman Powell added to that noise in a recent interview, putting the Lakers in an unflattering spot as questions linger about how high their ceiling really is. The scrutiny figures to keep coming, especially with the franchise now trying to build around a new core and prove the skepticism wrong before the season starts to write its own story. [Read more 🡒]