Lakers are pushing early on Jonathan Kuminga, framing a path to a wing role beside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving into an active phase of recruiting for Jonathan Kuminga, with reports indicating the team is emphasizing the opportunity for a likely starting wing role if Kuminga joins the roster. The renewed focus comes at a moment when Los Angeles is trying to fill a visible gap on the wing rotation, with the team’s recent personnel changes leaving fewer “high-upside” options available on the market.

CBS Sports reported that the Lakers are the “most active” team in discussions with Kuminga and that general manager Rob Pelinka reached out early once free agency opened. The reporting also ties the interest to Kuminga’s current market, suggesting the path for the forward to land in Los Angeles is being built around the role he could play immediately rather than waiting for a smaller, situational fit.

Kuminga’s situation is shaped by how his contract status has played out. CBS Sports noted that the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, leaving him without the kind of near-term, long-term security that might make other teams comfortable offering a more aggressive commitment. In the same report, the focus shifts to why Los Angeles may have an opening, pointing to the broader sense that several other suitors are not positioned to create a long-term landing spot.

The Lakers’ argument, per the report and additional coverage, is that Kuminga would slot into a lineup designed to support Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves at the center of the offense. Los Angeles recently acquired Walker Kessler and added players such as Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, which underscores the team’s attempt to build a more complete roster structure around its established creators and finishers. In that framework, Kuminga’s potential value is on the wing: creating athletic minutes on both ends and allowing the Lakers to move between primary ball handling and transition opportunities without sacrificing size or defensive disruption.

Additional reporting from, citing NBA media coverage, described the Lakers’ pitch as an opportunity for Kuminga to contribute as part of a Western Conference contender’s competitive framework. That portrayal matches the core idea reported by CBS Sports: that Los Angeles is attempting to convert interest into a decision by pairing urgency with a concrete basketball role, not just the promise of future development.

There are still clear uncertainties. Kuminga’s remaining market interest is described as limited in the CBS Sports report, but that does not guarantee Los Angeles is close to a deal, and the same coverage indicates the Lakers’ offer has not yet been sufficient for Kuminga to “jump” immediately. For the Lakers, the key question is whether the forward’s market value and expectations align with Los Angeles’ ability to meet them while continuing to balance roster needs across the frontcourt and backcourt.

If Kuminga and Los Angeles do connect, the move would likely reshape the Lakers’ rotation patterns from day one, especially in how the team covers wing matchups and distributes minutes behind Dončić’s playmaking. If they do not, Los Angeles still has the broader challenge of finding a wing who can reliably handle playoff intensity. Either way, the next step to watch is how quickly Kuminga narrows his choices and whether the Lakers can lock in a wing with the upside they are reportedly targeting before training camp preparation turns more rigid.