The Lakers’ offseason overhaul may not be finished yet, and two more names are still hanging around the edges of the picture: Bruce Brown and Jonathan Kuminga.
Los Angeles has already made major changes this summer as it reshapes the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the post-LeBron James era. The biggest move so far has been the addition of rising star Walker Kessler, but there’s still room for the Lakers to keep working before the 2026-27 NBA season opens on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
One possibility is Brown, who spent last season with the Denver Nuggets. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that the Lakers could be in the mix for the veteran guard, and the interest is hardly new. Fischer noted that Los Angeles has had Brown on its radar for a while, and it once looked like he would eventually end up in purple and gold.
Brown himself spoke about that near-miss during an appearance on DNVR Sports in December of 2025. After winning a championship with the Nuggets in 2023, he said he was going to the Lakers.
That move never happened. Instead, Brown said the Indiana Pacers came in with a two-year, $40 million offer, and he took it.
This time, the setup is different. Brown would be available on a veteran minimum contract, which could make him a useful bargain for Los Angeles. He would give the Lakers another experienced option off the bench and help shore up the backcourt.
Brown isn’t the only target still linked to the Lakers. Fischer also reported that Los Angeles remains in pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, who reportedly prefers the 17-time NBA champions over joining Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If the Lakers land both players, it would mark another meaningful step in the team’s retooling. Kuminga would bring athleticism and upside on the wing, with the kind of profile that could put him in the starting lineup right away and give him a strong fit next to Doncic. Brown, meanwhile, would add steady guard play and championship pedigree.
In Other News...
Lakers Still Have One Roster Problem Bruce Brown Could Change
Jonathan Kuminga finally came off the board, signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves and bringing one of the longer free-agency sagas to a close. For the Lakers, the development only sharpened the focus on a roster question that has lingered for weeks: they still have a clear opening on the wing, and the front office is keeping an eye on Bruce Brown as a possible answer.
Brown remains unsigned, but the expectation around him has been that he will land with a playoff-caliber team, which is why he has been tied to multiple suitors. From the Lakers perspective, his appeal is straightforward, since he could help stabilize the small forward spot and give the roster a more complete look while the rest of the market continues to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Missed A Key Target And Now Face A Tough Roster Call
Jonathan Kuminga is off the board, and the Lakers are left sorting through what his decision means for a roster that still needs help. The young forward has agreed to a two-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a deal that gives him a player option for the 2027-28 season and puts him alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
For the Lakers, the bigger issue is not just losing a player they were linked to, but having to move quickly into other options. Bruce Brown is one of the veteran guards being discussed as the front office weighs its next step, and the choice now feels less about chasing a target than finding the right fit before the market thins out further. [Read more 🡒]
Jeanie Buss Just Escalated A Lakers Ownership Fight That Could Change Control
Jeanie Buss has taken the latest family battle over Lakers ownership into court, filing a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to stop her siblings from selling the familys remaining shares in the franchise. The move puts fresh legal force behind a long-running internal dispute over control of a stake that still carries real influence inside one of the NBAs most high-profile organizations.
The filing accuses her siblings of secretly arranging a deal designed to remove her as the teams governor, and it seeks their removal as co-trustees of the trust that holds the familys 17.8% stake. With a court hearing set for Nov. 5, the next step could determine not just how the family handles its shares, but who gets to speak for the Lakers at the ownership level. [Read more 🡒]