Lakers zero in on Jonathan Kuminga as their next big swing

Los Angeles has a new top target to fill its suddenly vacant forward spot: Jonathan Kuminga. After the departures of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, the 23‑year‑old Congo‑born forward has become the Lakers’ priority. But talks with the Atlanta Hawks are anything but simple. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, Atlanta has already rejected an opening offer built around Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first‑round pick swap.

A deal that’s trickier than it looks

The Hawks aren’t interested in taking on Vanderbilt’s contract — especially after he barely factored into JJ Redick’s rotation last season. The Lakers, meanwhile, don’t want to give up their 2032 pick swap, which would leave them with almost no future first‑round assets to use in trades.

Even so, both sides have reasons to keep talking. Most NBA teams have already burned through their cap space, meaning Kuminga is unlikely to receive a more appealing offer than what the Lakers can put on the table. And the forward market is thin. Kuminga, who shot 33.2% from three across his career, may not be the perfect floor‑spacer next to Luka Doncic, but he’s still one of the few realistic upgrades available.

PJ Washington enters the conversation

The alternatives aren’t easy either. Beyond LeBron, the best forward available would be Payton Watson, but his price is way out of the Lakers’ reach. Stein reports that Denver wants a package similar to what Utah received for Walker Kessler: two unprotected first‑round picks and two pick swaps — a cost L.A. simply can’t absorb.

Another option on Rob Pelinka’s board is PJ Washington. According to Khobi Price of the California Post, the Lakers have shown interest in the Mavericks’ forward. Dallas, now deep into a rebuild, may be willing to listen to offers for a player who no longer fits its new core.

The obstacle? Washington’s contract: $88.8 million remaining over the next four seasons.

Washington’s history with Luka matters

Washington knows exactly what it’s like to play next to Doncic. In fact, the only time Luka reached the NBA Finals came with Washington as one of his key running mates. During that half‑season in Dallas, Washington became a crucial piece — boosting the Mavericks’ defensive efficiency by four points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor and logging the third‑most minutes during that playoff run.

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