The Lakers' next need is on the perimeter, and Jonathan Kuminga has become one of the names attached to it.
Marc Stein reported that Los Angeles was trying Wednesday to see whether a pathway exists to acquiring Kuminga, even with clear financial limitations. The Lakers know they still badly need more help on the wing after addressing other parts of the roster.
Kuminga's market is not limited to Los Angeles. Stein reported that Atlanta remains open to re-signing him, while Milwaukee and Cleveland have also shown interest. That makes the Lakers' pursuit less straightforward than simple need matching.
The financial piece is the hard part. The Lakers can like the player and still struggle to build the route, especially with several teams tracking the same unrestricted free agent and Los Angeles already working around a tight roster build.
The broader forward market is tangled, too. Rui Hachimura remains unsigned, and Stein wrote that the Kuminga and Hachimura markets appear to be overlapping. Minnesota and Golden State have been in contact with Hachimura's representation, while the Timberwolves are said to view him as their top power forward choice after committing to trade Julius Randle and Naz Reid so they can pair LaMelo Ball with Anthony Edwards.
For the Lakers, the Kuminga link is a signal of what they still think is missing: size, athleticism and defensive range on the perimeter. The question is whether they can turn that need into a deal before another suitor closes the window.
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