The Lakers may not be done reshaping the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles has already put together what looks like a much deeper group than the one it started with, but the front office is still hunting for help up front. The focus remains clear: a power forward or a backup center to give the frontcourt more juice.
“The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic," The Athletic's Dan Woike reported. "They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too.
The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity.”
One name Los Angeles has tracked for a while is Jonathan Kuminga, but those talks have reportedly gone cold. That has pushed the Lakers toward other possibilities, including Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington.
“The Lakers checked in with the Mavericks on PJ Washington. After Los Angeles' last transaction with Dallas, the all-time shocking Luka Doncic trade, it's unknown whether ownership would sign off here. A potential contingency plan for LA, if they don't acquire Jonathan Kuminga," NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.
Washington would check a major box for the Lakers at power forward. Heavy.com's Sai Mohan took that idea a step further and laid out a larger deal that would also bring Klay Thompson to Los Angeles.
“Lakers would receive: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington. Mavericks would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, Cameron Carr and a 2032 first-round pick swap,” Mohan wrote.
In that version of the deal, the biggest loss for the Lakers would likely be rookie Cameron Carr, while the other outgoing pieces are veterans the team has already been linked to moving. Thompson and Washington would give Los Angeles exactly what it needs: shooting on the perimeter and more versatility in the frontcourt.
The two players have earned a combined $362 million in NBA salary. For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious - an immediate upgrade. For Dallas, the return would mean depth, younger players, and more draft flexibility.
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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 🡒]