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Even after a busy start to NBA free agency, highlighted by the additions of Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, the Los Angeles Lakers still have work to do.
LeBron James' departure has left some space still to be filled by a player who can operate as a small forward or power forward.
One guy out there in free agency fits the bill with some intriguing talent: Jonathan Kuminga.
Lakers analyst Jovan Buha believes Kuminga could be the right fit, breaking it down in a new video about L.A.'s plans to fill out their forward rotation.
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It's a fascinating concept, one that has been previously reported elsewhere as a possibility, but one that at least so far has yet to come to fruition.
Frankly, there's been a relative lack of reporting on Kuminga's possible landing spots, particularly for a player who once had so much hype.
He was supposed to help bridge to a new generation with the Golden State Warriors, but the veterans he joined their instead outlasted him.
The Warriors traded Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks before the 2026 trade deadline to get Kristaps Porzingis. In Atlanta, Kuminga showed flashes of his talent, but the Hawks declined a player option for more than $20 million for 2026-27.
So now Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent, having watched some other talented players get contracts, and still now waiting for his own.
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He's a polarizing player, to be sure. It's easy to fall in love with his smooth scoring ability. It's also fair to wonder whether other aspects of his game will grow at all, and if he can do more than just put the ball in the basket.
Obviously, at the right price, putting the ball in the hoop is a valuable skill. Kuminga's overall ceiling will be determined by his growth in other parts of his game.
The Lakers certainly could use a swing like that on a player who still has some upside, so keep an eye out for a potential deal. It'd be big news in Hollywood.
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