Overview
- The Lakers signed guard Collin Sexton on July 12, a two-year, $19 million deal that moved the team above the salary cap and ended the possibility of signing Jonathan Kuminga outright.
- NBA insider Jake Fischer said negotiations for Kuminga have lost momentum during a Bleacher Report Summer League livestream, even though Los Angeles still views him as a preferred starting wing.
- With no cap room to offer a straight free-agent deal, the Lakers now must pursue a sign-and-trade or a multi-team exchange to acquire Kuminga.
- Insiders including Marc Stein warned the Lakers’ thin trade inventory — notably only a tradable 2032 first-round swap — makes trades for a multi-year wing difficult, and P.J. Washington faces similar contract and asset hurdles despite some local reporting favoring him.
- Kuminga remains free to consider other suitors after Atlanta declined his option earlier this month, so the Lakers will need creative trade work or an alternate low-cost option if they want to fill the starting wing role for Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.