Overview
- Multiple reports identify Jonathan Kuminga as the Lakers’ top remaining choice to fill their starting wing vacancy.
- Reporting Sunday said the Atlanta Hawks are willing to either re‑sign Kuminga or take part in a sign‑and‑trade that could send him to Los Angeles.
- The Lakers have limited free‑agent room after early signings and are pursuing two paths: a Hawks sign‑and‑trade or salary‑clearing deals that would free cap space.
- Los Angeles’ trade of Deandre Ayton to Washington yielded Jaden Hardy and two second‑round picks, and Hardy’s roughly $6 million salary plus picks are being viewed as assets to match salary in dump trades.
- Team insiders say the Lakers prefer moving Jarred Vanderbilt and ideally Dalton Knecht to create room, but no transaction has been reported closed and Kuminga remains an unconfirmed target.