The Lakers’ offseason wish list keeps circling back to the same two names: Jonathan Kuminga and Klay Thompson.
Los Angeles has spent the last two months trying to pry Kuminga loose, and the latest wrinkle is that the former NBA champion has reportedly turned away minimum-salary pitches from other teams. That matters because it keeps the Lakers in the hunt.
“Jonathan Kuminga is not willing to sign with any team on a one-year prove-it deal at the veteran’s minimum. The Kings and Timberwolves recently expressed interest in Kuminga, but the minimum salary made negotiations a no-go. The Lakers remain the favorites to acquire Kuminga,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.
Thompson is another target on the board, and he brings a different kind of intrigue. The four-time NBA champion would need to be acquired in a trade, but he is reportedly open to a return to Los Angeles, the city where he spent part of his childhood.
“My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer,” The Athletic’s Christian Clark wrote.
That has opened the door to a bigger swing: a three-team deal that would bring both players to the Lakers at once. Heavy.com’s Sai Mohan floated a trade in which Los Angeles would send out Dalton Knecht, Bronny James and other assets to make it happen.
“Lakers would receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson. Mavericks would receive: Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, Bronny James, 2033 second-round pick (via SAC), 2031 and 2032 second-round pick (via WAS) and 2033 second-round pick (via LAL). Hawks would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2032 first-round pick swap (via LAL),” Mohan wrote.
The Lakers would be parting with multiple contracts they have reportedly been trying to move all summer. In exchange, they’d be getting two former Golden State Warriors champions who could inject immediate talent into the roster.
Between them, Kuminga and Thompson have earned a combined $346 million over their careers. If Los Angeles found a way to land both, the ripple effect would be enormous and could give the Lakers a much stronger path toward an NBA championship run.
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