The Lakers had money to spend this offseason. They spent it. And somehow, they might have made things harder on themselves.
Losing LeBron James opened up cap space, sure. But James didn’t just run the offense when Luka Doncic sat down. He also held things together on defense and found mismatches like it was muscle memory. That kind of two-way presence doesn’t grow on trees. The Lakers tried to replace it with a shopping spree, and the results are mixed at best.
Walker Kessler is a legitimate rim protector. Maybe the best outside of San Antonio. But the Lakers gave up two first-round picks and two pick swaps to get him in a sign-and-trade with Utah. That is a lot for a center who hasn’t cracked the top ten at his position yet. Then they added Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton on deals that feel fine individually but start to look questionable when you consider they let Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard walk for almost nothing.
Now reports say the Lakers are circling Jonathan Kuminga. On the surface, that sounds like a potential disaster given how much they’ve already committed. But if the price is right, it actually makes some sense.
Rui Hachimura looks like he’s gone
Nothing is official yet, but multiple reports suggest Rui Hachimura’s time in LA is over. That’s a real problem. Hachimura shot 44.3 percent from three this past season and bumped that to 57 percent in the playoffs while knocking down over three triples per game. At 6’8″, he was the perfect connective piece for a team that needed spacing and defense on the wing. Letting him walk without a replacement would leave the Lakers with exactly one true small forward on the roster. Jake LaRavia is the next man up, and he looked completely lost during the playoff series against Oklahoma City. JJ Redick had to bench him for the last two games.
The Lakers added guards and centers. They didn’t add wings. That’s where Kuminga comes in.
Kuminga offers size and versatility
Jonathan Kuminga has the kind of frame the Lakers need. He can guard the other team’s best player, whether that’s a wing or a big man. During Atlanta’s playoff series against New York, he spent time on Karl-Anthony Towns and held his own. That kind of versatility is rare for a 23-year-old.
He can also score. The Lakers have Doncic and Austin Reaves running the offense, but they need someone who can create off the dribble when the shot clock gets tight. Kuminga isn’t a knockdown shooter, but he can attack the rim and finish through contact. He’d have to learn to space the floor and do the dirty work, but that’s true for almost anyone who plays next to Doncic.
The problem is price. Kuminga was due about $24 million next season, but Atlanta declined his team option, making him a free agent. The Lakers could try a sign-and-trade involving Jaden Hardy and a pile of second-round picks. But after emptying the vault for Kessler, how much more are they willing to give up?
The league knows LA needs a small forward. That kills their leverage. The alternative options are Khris Middleton (34 years old, injury history as long as your arm), Ziaire Williams, Ochai Agbaji, or Jett Howard. None of those are exciting.
Doncic has a track record of making cheap 3-and-D wings look like stars. Maybe the Lakers are better off taking a flier on one of those lower-cost options and saving their assets. But Kuminga has the highest upside of anyone available at a position of need. If the Lakers can get him without completely gutting their future, it’s worth the gamble.
They just have to make sure the price doesn’t turn another smart idea into another headache.
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