Overview
- Los Angeles failed to land Jonathan Kuminga in the offseason, leaving a clear vacancy at the starting power-forward spot that the front office has not filled.
- Local and national coverage this week has coalesced around Jake LaRavia as the leading internal candidate to start if his perimeter shooting returns to league-average levels.
- LaRavia logged a career-high 25.1 minutes per game across 82 appearances in 2025–26 and is praised for his defensive versatility and on-ball energy.
- The Lakers also have internal alternatives — Sandro Mamukelashvili for offensive versatility, Matisse Thybulle for top-tier perimeter defense, plus Ziaire Williams and Jarred Vanderbilt — each with clear tradeoffs in shooting, health, or fit.
- Sign-and-trade mechanics, Bird-rights rules, and the team’s crowded payroll after moves like acquiring Walker Kessler have left Los Angeles with little short-term cap room, which raises the stakes on getting the internal choice right and increases pressure on Luka Dončić to carry the roster.