The Lakers have had a busy summer. They re-signed Austin Reaves, added Walker Kessler on a four-year, $130 million deal, and brought in veterans like Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney, Quentin Grimes, and Ziaire Williams. But Mychal Thompson, the Lakers legend and two-time NBA champion, thinks there’s one move left to make.
Thompson went public with his pitch for Jonathan Kuminga to join the purple and gold. He said it during a recent appearance, per USA Today’s Robert Marvi.
“I wish I had Jonathan Kuminga’s phone number,” Thompson said. “He needs to sign with the Lakers. Talk about a great opportunity for him. He’d come in as a starter. Play on a high-profile team like the Lakers. Everybody around the league is gonna see you. He could run the floor. He can go out and get alley-oop dunks from Luka Doncic. This will set him up for his future if he ends up signing. I don’t know what’s taken him so long.”
Why Thompson thinks Kuminga fits
The logic is pretty straightforward. Thompson sees Kuminga as a young, athletic wing who could thrive next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James — if LeBron stays. James announced his exit from the Lakers at the start of the offseason, but the roster moves since then suggest the front office isn’t hitting pause.
Kuminga is a restricted free agent. The 22-year-old averaged 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds last season for Golden State, but his role was inconsistent. He’s shown flashes of being a dynamic slasher and defender. The question is whether he’s ready for a bigger stage.
Thompson seems convinced.
The Lakers still have an open roster spot
Los Angeles has one slot left for the 2026-27 season. That’s the opening Thompson wants them to fill with Kuminga. The Warriors have been quiet on a potential sign-and-trade, but the Lakers have cap flexibility after Reaves agreed to adjust his contract by $5 million to help the team sign other free agents.
That kind of move — a player voluntarily taking less to help the team — is rare. It shows Reaves is locked in. And it gives the Lakers room to make one more meaningful addition.
Whether Kuminga ends up in L.A. depends on a lot of factors. His market, Golden State’s willingness to match, and whether the Lakers can structure a deal that works for both sides. But Thompson’s message is clear: this is the place for him.
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