The Los Angeles Lakers have had the NBA’s busiest offseason, completely revamping their roster around Luka Dončić.
With one roster spot remaining, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka is reportedly determined to shore up the team’s wing rotation following the departure of veteran star forward LeBron James.
LA has zeroed in on free-agent wing Jonathan Kuminga, and its latest financial offer and recruiting pitch to the 23-year-old have now been revealed.
Lakers Hoping To Land Jonathan Kuminga on $20 Million Deal
LA has addressed several needs this offseason, most notably upgrading its center rotation with the additions of Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney. It also added much-needed frontcourt spacing with the signing of Sandro Mamukelashvili.
In the backcourt, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy were brought in to back up Dončić and his co-star, Austin Reaves. That leaves the starting small forward spot as the Lakers’ biggest remaining question mark.
Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, their flurry of moves hasn’t dampened their interest in Kuminga, whom Pelinka and Co. view as the missing piece to the franchise’s new-look starting five.
“That didn’t stop the Lakers’ pursuit of Kuminga, as multiple members of the organization, including players, reached out and expressed their desire for him to join them,” Slater wrote Tuesday.
“Pelinka has remained in touch with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, subtly improving their offer in recent days, league sources told ESPN, while reiterating to Kuminga his importance to what the Lakers are building around Dončić, a likely starting role and what the opportunity could do for his career.”
The Lakers are offering Jonathan Kuminga a starting role in their free agent pitch, per @anthonyVslater.
Los Angeles’ projected starting lineup, if Kuminga signs:
Luka Doncic
Austin Reaves
Kuminga
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Walker Kessler pic.twitter.com/s6km5KxA5E— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 7, 2026
According to The Los Angeles Times’ Broderick Turner, “LA is looking at a two-year, $20-million deal for Kuminga.”
The Lakers are reportedly willing to offer Jonathan Kuminga a two-year, $20 million contract, per @latimes
“Jonathan Kuminga is a player the Lakers are after, according to people with knowledge of the situation who said L.A. is looking at a two-year, $20-million deal for… pic.twitter.com/asX7JitCud
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 7, 2026
However, Slater noted that “Kuminga and Turner haven’t jumped at [the latest offer], believing there are still avenues to better deals as the offseason dominoes continue to fall.”
While not a lockdown defender or reliable outside shooter, Kuminga possesses the tools to become a high-impact two-way wing on a title contender, standing at 6-foot-7 with elite athleticism and downhill scoring ability.
Given the Lakers’ financial constraints and the thinning free-agent market, signing the 2021 No. 7 pick could be their best chance to add another long-term building block who could benefit from Dončić’s playmaking.
Across 36 outings with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks this past season, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 3-pointers per game, shooting 46.3% overall and 33.3% from deep.
