Los Angeles Lakers Offseason Moves
The Los Angeles Lakers have already blown through their budget in free agency, yet it seems their roster still requires some tweaking.
General manager Rob Pelinka was quite proactive when free agency kicked off, securing center Walker Kessler with a four-year, $130 million contract, marking him as the focus of the Lakers’ acquisitions. They also added guards Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, along with big man Sandro Mamukelashvili.
While these new faces bring talent, concerns linger about the team’s overall synergy. Furthermore, the Lakers still have a glaring need for a versatile wing defender.
There’s been chatter surrounding potential interest in free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, who is finishing up the 2025-26 season with averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. His shooting stats are also noteworthy: 46.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range during his time with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers are familiar with Kuminga since he spent the first four years of his career with the Golden State Warriors. A move to Los Angeles might present a promising opportunity for him, potentially as either a starter or a valuable bench player.
This offseason, the Lakers faced the departure of several key contributors, notably with LeBron James confirming he won’t return for the 2026-27 season, and sharpshooter Luke Kennard and defensive ace Marcus Smart signing with other teams.
The exits left a significant void, lacking multiple starters and a key sixth man in Rui Hachimura, who, unlike Kennard and Smart, remains an unrestricted free agent. The slow progression of Hachimura’s free agency definitely highlights the Lakers’ careful consideration of their options in the market.
Future Options
Rumors suggest the Lakers might pursue a trade or utilize the stretch provision to address their needs, possibly aiming for either Kuminga or Hachimura.
As mentioned by NBA Insider Dave McMenamin, “With Hachimura still on the market, several league insiders are curious whether the Lakers are planning some kind of trade or might use Jared Vanderbilt or Deandre Ayton’s extension clauses to bolster their offer to Hachimura.”
At this moment, the Lakers can only consider signing league minimum veterans. To secure a significant acquisition like Kuminga or Hachimura, they’d need to trade away or waive players like Vanderbilt or Ayton.
Hachimura has notably excelled in playoff scenarios, posting averages of 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. However, the current roster lacks effective defenders, a weakness that has plagued them, especially among the forwards.
Still, Hachimura adds the ability to shoot proficiently from beyond the arc, previously showcasing over 50% accuracy during the postseason. Both Hachimura and Kuminga present intriguing potential, although Kuminga, being younger at just 23, holds a bit more promise for future development into a solid two-way player.
Moving forward, Pelinka will have to think outside the box to add more talent before the season commences. But, it’s evident that the road ahead won’t be easy.
