The Lakers have spent the offseason moving with purpose, and the plan has been pretty easy to read: build around Luka Doncic, keep stacking useful pieces, and keep the roster moving in that direction. They’ve already checked off nearly every target they’ve chased, but the front office still has one more wing in its sights.
Jonathan Kuminga remains on the radar. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, “There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure Kuminga’s commitment as their new wing addition,”
But there’s a real possibility Los Angeles doesn’t land him.
Sports Illustrated’s Ethen Hutton suggested the Lakers could pivot if Kuminga goes elsewhere, and that fallback option would be DeMar DeRozan. Hutton wrote, “The Los Angeles Lakers have had one of the busiest offseasons of any team in the NBA to this point, and are looking to continue their aggressive pursuit coming into the season.
Los Angeles’ front office is looking to add another quality wing, targeting the likes of Jonathan Kuminga following the departure of LeBron James. Should the team miss out on Kuminga, who has a competitive trade market, DeRozan could serve as a quality backup option, providing consistent scoring and reliable defensive effort,”
That kind of move would look different from a Kuminga swing, but it would still give the Lakers something they can use. DeRozan doesn’t bring the same age or athletic upside, yet his scoring, experience and veteran presence would fit neatly next to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic as the Lakers keep shaping the roster around that core.
DeRozan was on a $73 million contract with the Sacramento Kings before being waived, and adding him would give Los Angeles another established offensive option and more wing depth. It wouldn’t have the same headline-grabbing feel as Kuminga, but it would still be the kind of addition that helps the Lakers stay in the mix in the Western Conference.
The broader offseason picture has already changed once for Los Angeles. The Lakers’ plan could not fully get rolling until LeBron James chose to continue his career elsewhere.
“LeBron James will return for an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA -- but it won't be with the Los Angeles Lakers. James has informed the Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday,” ESPN wrote.
After that, the Lakers moved quickly, trading for Walker Kessler and signing several key free agents. Even with those additions, the work is not done. The Lakers are still hunting for another wing, and if Kuminga slips away, DeRozan is the name to watch.
In Other News...
Spurs Have One Summer League Name Fans Need To Watch Closely
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Bryant is already drawing attention as one of the leagues players to watch, and the reasons are easy to see from the Spurs perspective. His athleticism, perimeter defense and three-point shooting all point toward the kind of complementary piece San Antonio wants next to Wembanyama, which makes his Summer League run more than just a developmental stop. The Spurs open play Thursday against the Hawks, and for a team still shaping its future, this is one of the more important auditions on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Face A LeBron Dilemma Fans Wont Agree On
The Spurs still sit in the long-shot conversation if LeBron James ever reaches free agency, and that alone says something about how strange this summer could get in San Antonio. Even after signing Tobias Harris, the idea of James in silver and black keeps hanging around because of what he would mean on the floor, where he would instantly become the most accomplished forward on the roster and bring a level of command few players in the league can match.
Mario Chalmers, who knows James from their Miami days, is not sold on the fit. His concern is less about talent than about what happens around a young team when a player with that much basketball IQ walks in, because the Spurs have spent so much time trying to grow their own voices and identity. For all the upside of adding a star of that magnitude, there is also the question of whether San Antonio would be asking its development path to bend too far around him. [Read more 🡒]
Keldon Johnson Gave Spurs Fans Hope And One Lingering Concern
Keldon Johnson gave the Spurs exactly the kind of jolt they wanted this season, showing up every night across all 82 regular-season games and doing it all without ever cracking the starting five. The production was real, too, with more than 1,000 points and steady contributions on the glass and as a passer, enough to make him one of the most reliable pieces in San Antonios rotation.
The concern, though, is what happens when the stage gets bigger. Johnsons scoring dipped once the playoffs arrived, and the slide became more noticeable as the postseason wore on, leaving the Spurs with a reminder that regular-season consistency does not always translate cleanly when the pressure rises. Even so, he remains a central part of where this team is headed, which is why his next step matters so much. [Read more 🡒]