The Lakers are still staring at one of the biggest unfinished pieces on their roster: starting power forward. They’ve made moves to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but free agency is winding down and that spot in the lineup remains unresolved.
That missing piece became even more obvious when the Lakers’ long-running hope, Jonathan Kuminga, slipped away. For two months, Los Angeles had been eyeing the 23-year-old as a possible answer, but he ended up with the Minnesota Timberwolves instead.
“Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. Kuminga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
With that path gone, the Lakers may have to turn to the trade market to solve the problem. One proposal has them dealing Jaden Hardy and draft picks across town to the Clippers for Derrick Jones Jr.
“Lakers would receive: Derrick Jones Jr. Clippers would receive: Jaden Hardy, 2031 second-round pick (via WAS), 2032 second-round pick (via WAS), 2033 second-round pick (via LAL),” Sai Mohan wrote.
Jones would give Los Angeles something it clearly needs: a legit starting-caliber forward who can add athleticism, defend multiple spots and keep the floor moving. He can run, finish around the rim and bring a different kind of energy to a lineup that already has Doncic and Reaves handling plenty of the creation.
He’s also not just a one-note athlete. Jones has made $48 million throughout his career and has become a better shooter, which has rounded out his game. If the Lakers are looking for a proven veteran who fits the physical profile of what they need at power forward, Jones could be the kind of move that makes sense.
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What makes the optimism feel real is how former players are talking about him. Lance Stephenson has gone so far as to put Doncic in the conversation with the greatest point guards, while Trevor Ariza has pointed to championship potential with the Lakers, the kind of outside validation that tends to travel fast in this market. For a team trying to build a contender around one of the leagues best scorers and passers, those comments only add to the sense that something bigger may be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
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JJ Redick Just Put His Lakers Rise In A New Light
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Redick also recently gave a more personal look at the path that brought him here, speaking to students in Roanoke County and offering motivational messages about his basketball journey. For a coach whose Lakers tenure is shifting from proving himself to shaping what comes next, it was a reminder that his rise has been built not just on results, but on the perspective he brings with him into the job. [Read more 🡒]