The Los Angeles Lakers are still rounding out their roster and arguably their biggest remaining need is a bigger wing who can start at the power forward position.
The two main free agents the Lakers have been linked to are Rui Hachimura and Jonathan Kuminga. L.A. would need to find a way to free up some money in order to sign either, but it appears Kuminga is currently their priority.
“There’s definitely Lakers interest in Kuminga too,” Jake Fischer reported on Bleacher Report. “The Lakers, to my understanding, were very in on Kuminga yesterday, they’ve maintained contact there. There’s definitely a pitch that’s been made about the opportunity he could have to help Luka Doncic contend in the Western Conference… Rui Hachimura, to my understanding, is not a priority to the Lakers… We keep hearing Kuminga stuff. I believe Trey Lyles was another name on the Lakers list before he went to Minnesota earlier today… I don’t think Rui is going back there are all.
“I do think Los Angeles, and have been told that Los Angeles has interest in Jonathan Kuminga. They were a team that had interest in Kuminga by way of sign-and-trade last summer as well as Kuminga’s restricted free agency dragged out all summer long with the Warriors until he signed his one-plus-one contract that ended up having him get traded to Atlanta. So Jonathan Kuminga, to my understanding, is the Lakers’ top choice right now at the wing spot of all the guys left on the board.”
The Lakers prioritizing Kuminga over Hachimura is interesting considering the latter is coming off a career year in L.A. and has made a home with the organization since being traded there in 2023.
Hachimura would give the Lakers some more floor spacing and make them arguably the best shooting team in the league, while Kuminga would bring a different dimension as a big slashing wing with athleticism. Kuminga is a better rebounder, but neither is really known to be a lockdown defender.
While a move still needs to be made to open up space, it’s clear that adding a wing is a priority for the Lakers to compete the offseason.
Lakers also looking for backup center
After trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards to recoup some draft capital, the Lakers are also in need of a backup center.
The free agent market isn’t great, but they are already being linked to the best names out there like Nick Richards, Kevon Looney and Jonas Valanciunas.
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