The Lakers' Jonathan Kuminga chase is running into the same question from two angles: talent is not the same thing as fit.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer discussed Los Angeles' remaining wing search this week, with Stein saying he does not view Kuminga as the two-way wing the Lakers need. He framed the move as more of a talent play, which matches the split reaction around the team right now.
The Lakers have already handled most of their planned summer business, including the frontcourt and guard additions around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. That leaves the wing spot as the obvious pressure point. Kuminga offers size, athleticism and upside, but the price and role still matter. Reports have tied Los Angeles to a two-year, $20 million type of offer, while Kuminga's market has been discussed closer to a much larger annual number.
That gap is why this has not become a simple roster upgrade story. If the Lakers can land him without burning their last useful flexibility, the upside is real. If the cost climbs toward starter money and trade assets, the move starts to look less like a clean solution and more like a bet on development.
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