Lakers Must Pivot to Other Options Amid Jonathan Kuminga Rumors of Sign-and-Trade in NBA Free Agency

It's been a transformative offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers thus far. Los Angeles has moved on from LeBron James and fully embraced their future with Luka Dončić as the face of the franchise.

The Lakers re-signed Austin Reaves, traded for Walker Kessler, and added role players like Collins Sexton and Kevon Looney. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Dončić is pleased with what L.A. has done.

"A source familiar with Luka Doncic's thinking told ESPN he was 'excited' about the new players and 'looking forward to getting to work with this group,'" McMenamin wrote.

However, the Lakers aren't quite done building their roster for the 2026-27 season. They have two open roster spots and a source told McMenamin that those last spots "will be critical."

In recent days, Jonathan Kuminga has emerged as a prime candidate for one of those spots. According to The Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner (h/t Edwin Garcia of Silver Screen and Roll), the Lakers have eyed Kuminga and a two-year, $20 million deal. According to Khobi Price of the California Post, however, Kuminga is unlikely to accept a $10 million salary and may only join the Lakers on a larger deal via a sign-and-trade.

And, per Price, the Atlanta Hawks are willing to work out a sign-and-trade with Kuminga.

Unfortunately, while Kuminga would address Los Angeles' need for wing depth, it appears he's out of the Lakers' price range—sign-and-trade or no.

NBA insider Jake Fischer (h/t Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters), the Hawks are "seeking more than the Lakers can offer to this point."

If Atlanta is truly asking for more than the Lakers are comfortable offering, it's time to pivot to other wing options. Giving up trade assets and then overpaying Kuminga isn't the sort of move that will make L.A. a title contender, and waiting to see if his situation changes could cost the Lakers quality options for those "critical" last roster spots.

Kuminga, after all, isn't the only role-playing wing the Lakers have a shot at adding. Price mentioned Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington, though Los Angeles apparently isn't interested in absorbing his contract.

"The Lakers have long been tied to trade rumors with Mavericks forward PJ Washington, a former teammate of Doncic's in Dallas, but the fully guaranteed $88.8 million Washington is owed over the next four years isn't appealing to the Lakers."

Still, if the Lakers are going to trade for a player and overpay him, getting the one who already has experience playing with Dončić would make the most sense.

Still, if the Lakers are going to trade for a player and overpay him, getting the one who already has experience playing with Dončić would make the most sense.

Some intriguing wing options are also still available in free agency, like Matisse Thybulle, Bruce Brown, and restricted free agent Payton Watson. While they may lack the untapped potential that Kuminga may still possess, one of them could help fill L.A.'s need for depth and defense.

Thybulle, for example, is a two-time second-team All-Defense selection. Like Kuminga, Brown and Watson have both been part of championship squads (both with the Denver Nuggets).

The unquestionable reality is that Los Angeles isn't the only team in the market for a role-playing wing, and the player pool will only get shallower as the offseason continues to unfold. The time to pivot away from Kuminga and toward Plan B is now.