Top 3 Los Angeles Lakers Targets To Finalize 2026-27 NBA Roster

The Los Angeles Lakers have moved on from LeBron James to enter the Luka Dončić era. The front office has fielded an intriguing roster around Dončić, but the forward positions remain somewhat nebulous.

If guard Quentin Grimes joins the starting group alongside Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Dončić, who is the ideal fifth at power forward?

The options include an offense-heavy, iffy defense choice like Sandro Mamukelashvili, or a defense-first but shaky offense pick like Jake LaRavia, Kevon Looney or Jarred Vanderbilt. Younger players like Adou Thiero and Dalton Knecht still need to prove themselves at an NBA level.

Unless the team gets a surprise boost from players like Ziaire Williams or Matisse Thybulle, the starting power forward may not yet be on the squad.

Who might the Lakers chase to finalize their 2026-27 roster?

Jonathan Kuminga

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The Lakers have chased Kuminga for much of the summer. The Atlanta Hawks' unrestricted free agent has yet to find a home. A two-team sign-and-trade seems unlikely.

With L.A. out of spending power, that's the only viable way to acquire Kuminga, which requires a three-year commitment. If the number isn't high enough, Kuminga won't lock in multiple years below what he perceives to be his market value.

The Lakers also have limited trade assets, down to a 2032 first-round swap and three future second-round picks. If that's enough for the Hawks to facilitate a Kuminga deal, there's a larger issue: the team is close to the luxury tax threshold and already has more than a full roster, with 17 players under standard contracts.

The Lakers can get to a reasonable starting salary for Kuminga by trading two of Jaden Hardy, LaRavia, Vanderbilt and Knecht. Los Angeles can pad that outgoing amount by about $9.1 million. But L.A. also has a first-apron hard cap. If Hardy and Knecht were the pair sent out, the most Kuminga could get in year one is about $18 million for $56.7 million over three years.

Roping in a third team for Hardy and/or Knecht would help keep the Hawks out of the tax, which seems like a requirement if the Lakers intend to acquire Kuminga. "Should" is a different question; his inconsistent outside shot and midrange game are not an ideal fit, though he is certainly young (nearing 24) and athletic.

PJ Washington

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Since trading Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025, the Dallas Mavericks have rebooted with a new basketball operations staff led by Masai Ujiri and head coach Dusty May.

The decision-makers who green-lit an extension for Washington last summer are gone. The team is building around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, whose best position may be power forward. The team also recently acquired Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher. Washington appears expendable with $88.8 million due over the next four seasons.

That's the rub for the Lakers. They can add a player who helped Dončić get to the 2024 NBA Finals, but his contract may be too long for their liking. Washington, almost 28, is a 6'7" role player willing to play defense, set screens, and take the open shot. He's streaky, but shoots without hesitation when the offense calls for it.

Los Angeles would want to include Vanderbilt, who has a $13.3 million option for next season, along with Knecht or Hardy. That would keep the Lakers under the first apron and should allow them to use next year's non-taxpayer mid-level exception (about $15.9 million) to improve the roster.

Kuminga may have greater upside on paper, but Washington is a better actual fit on the court.

De'Andre Hunter

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As suggested by California Post's Khobi Price, Hunter of the Sacramento Kings could be a viable fallback option for the Lakers at forward.

The Kings acquired Hunter ahead of the trade deadline in February from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, the price was relatively low in players they didn't intend to retain (Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, and Dario Šarić), plus a relatively weak 2029 second-round pick.

Sacramento was among the worst teams in the NBA last season. The Hunter acquisition places the team almost $4 million above the luxury tax this year, assuming the Kings reach the required 14 standard players with another minimum signing.

Hunter is extension eligible, but as Sacramento retools, the franchise needs to wait and see before making any further hefty commitments. The Lakers can help get the team immediately under the luxury tax with a combination of Vanderbilt, Knecht, and Hardy (or LaRavia).

The Kings would need to view Knecht as a player who can fit with their young core. Sacramento doesn't have as much financial pressure next season once Zach LaVine's $49 million comes off its books. The Kings could look to get a third team like the Brooklyn Nets to take Hardy, but a LaVine buyout near $4 million, along with a Lakers deal, would get the franchise out of the tax entirely.

Vanderbilt's extra season at $13.3 million, via player option, could lead the Kings to demand draft compensation, possibly including the Lakers' available first-round swap and/or second-round considerations. If L.A. is willing to give up the rest of what it has to offer, the intention should be locking Hunter into an extension as well.

The downside is that Hunter, 28, has struggled with durability and is coming off a down season. Still, he shot extremely well over the 2024-25 season, hitting 40.5 percent from three-point range on 5.8 attempts. If he were the perfect candidate, he wouldn't be available to the Lakers with what the team has to offer.

Honorable Mention

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The Lakers have time to pursue other ideas. Chasing Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets or Trey Murphy II/Herb Jones isn't realistic with L.A. short on draft resources.

The Chicago Bulls are said to be open to moving Patrick Williams, but he may not have the size (6'6") or consistent production for the Lakers to take on his three-year deal.

The Indiana Pacers notoriously avoid paying luxury taxes, leading competing executives to believe they make a move at some point to shed salary. The Lakers could pursue Obi Toppin or Jarace Walker.

Price suggested Kyle Kuzma of the Milwaukee Bucks. Jerami Grant's $36.4 million player option for 2026-27 with the Memphis Grizzlies is likely to scare off Los Angeles. The LA Clippers appear unwilling to send Derrick Jones Jr. to the Lakers.

Another option is to head into the regular season to see exactly what the team has, then pivot before the February 2027 trade deadline as needed. If so, the Lakers will need to cut or trade one player before the regular season begins to get down to the maximum of 15.

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