The Lakers need to figure out their roster situation going forward, and one free agent who has been waiting for his phone to ring is Jonathan Kuminga. The former Warriors wing is still unsigned, and according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, there’s a good reason for that: LeBron James is still making up his mind.
Buha broke down the situation on his YouTube channel, and the gist is that some teams, like the Timberwolves, are holding out for LeBron before they commit to anyone else. And Kuminga is just stuck waiting.
“So again, if you’re Minnesota, would you rather have LeBron or Kuminga? You’d rather have LeBron, even if it’s a short-term thing versus the long-term thing,” Buha said. “Kuminga is kind of a victim right now of the LeBron sweepstakes and that is freezing things to a degree.”
That’s a rough spot for a young player who wants to sign somewhere, start working, and establish a role. Instead he’s sitting in limbo while one aging superstar decides between Cleveland, Minnesota, or maybe even retirement. No one has confirmed any of this, obviously, but the reasoning makes sense around the league.
What Kuminga Would Bring to L.A.
If the Lakers actually land him, Kuminga gives them something they don’t have much of: length and athleticism on the wing. Luka Doncic is not exactly a shutdown defender, and neither is Austin Reaves. Pairing those two with a long, bouncy forward who can guard multiple positions and finish at the rim would help a lot.
The Lakers already made a big move by trading for Utah center Walker Kessler, but that won’t fix everything. They still need someone who can cover ground on defense and give them some energy when the offense stalls. Kuminga is 22 years old, he’s got playoff experience from Golden State, and he’s probably not going to cost a fortune. That’s the kind of signing that makes sense for a team trying to stay competitive while also thinking a little bit about the future.
LeBron’s Timeline Is the Only Timeline
Right now, nothing moves until LeBron decides. The Timberwolves are a dark horse candidate in that race, but most of the noise points to the Cavaliers. LeBron has already played there twice, and going back would be a neat story. But it’s not done yet, and until it is, guys like Kuminga just have to wait.
It’s not ideal for Kuminga, getting treated like a backup plan. But that’s the reality when a player of LeBron’s magnitude is still on the board. Teams will hold a roster spot open for him and figure out the rest later. Kuminga might not love being the consolation prize, but if he signs with a team that knows what he can do, it could still work out fine. He just has to be patient a little longer.
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