Overview
- The Lakers agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with veteran center Kevon Looney to serve as the backup behind newly acquired Walker Kessler, a move confirmed by multiple outlets.
- Los Angeles has actively pursued 23-year-old wing Jonathan Kuminga and reportedly offered a two-year, $20 million contract while holding virtual meetings that included GM Rob Pelinka and coach J. J. Redick.
- Kuminga has not accepted the Lakers' proposal and is exploring other options as he waits for better offers to emerge during the ongoing free-agent period.
- The team has used most of its remaining cap space on Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili, leaving one roster spot and forcing the Lakers to consider trades of players such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaden Hardy or Dalton Knecht to create more room.
- Losing preferred backup target Andre Drummond to the Knicks highlights market competition and signals that any upgrade for Kuminga could cost Los Angeles meaningful rotation pieces or draft assets.