Lakers get major update for ex-Warriors NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga in free agency pursuit

Lakers get major update for ex-Warriors NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga in free agency pursuit originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have had their fair share of ups and downs this offseason as they look to build around Luka Doncic. Despite all the moves they have made, there is still a significant need for a starting power forward.

The Lakers have had Jonathan Kuminga as a primary target throughout the summer. For nearly two months, both sides have reportedly maintained mutual interest.

“There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure Kuminga’s commitment as their new wing addition,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.

However, there are still some questions surrounding Kuminga. If he joins the Lakers, he will have to accept a different role, and one Lakers insider does not believe he is ready to make that commitment.

“The most important thing is Kuminga’s mindset, his commitment to playing the role that the Lakers need from him. They need him to be their Aaron Gordon, their Andrew Wiggins. Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. “And I don’t know if he is ready to commit to that role. You also see the downside. If he’s not rebounding, if he’s not making the extra pass, if he’s not playing team basketball then it’s just the wrong fit.”

The good news for the Lakers is that, despite the lengthy pursuit, they remain in a strong position to land Kuminga.

“The Atlanta Hawks were said to be open to bringing Kuminga back on a minimum deal, but that ship has sailed since adding Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort in trades with the OKC Thunder. … There hasn’t been much talk about Kuminga going to the Clippers recently, and interest from the Bucks seems like an “if all else fails” option regarding their pursuit of Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin. It looks increasingly likely that Kuminga will end up with the Lakers,” NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote.

The Lakers are feeling the pressure to add Kuminga because they need a legitimate starter to fill that role. If they fail to do so, there could be a significant hole in the starting lineup, forcing a role player to take on a much larger workload.

Los Angeles knows it is in a good position to land Kuminga, but it also understands the importance of getting the fit right. Kuminga is an exciting young player with plenty of potential, but the biggest question is whether he can expand his game and embrace the role the Lakers need him to play.

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