Key Takeaways
- The Lakers have signed veteran center Kevon Looney to a one‑year, $3.9 million contract, filling a backup center role after trading Deandre Ayton.
- Jonathan Kuminga remains the Lakers’ top free‑agent target; the front office has pitched him a high‑minutes wing role alongside Luka Doncic.
- Los Angeles has already committed much of its cap space to other signings (Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton), leaving only one roster spot and limited financial flexibility for a Kuminga offer.
- The Lakers are improving their offer through continued dialogue with Kuminga’s agent and emphasizing a clear path to a starting role, but Kuminga and his representation are holding out for potentially better deals, including sign‑and‑trade scenarios.
- Atlanta remains open to a sign‑and‑trade that would preserve Kuminga’s Bird rights, while Cleveland also shows interest, though the Cavaliers are preoccupied with the LeBron James situation.
- Sacramento has re‑checked Kuminga’s interest but lacks the cap space to make a direct offer without a sign‑and‑trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers have moved quickly to bolster their frontcourt, agreeing to a one‑year, $3.9 million deal with veteran center Kevon Looney, who spent the previous season with the New Orleans Pelicans after a decade‑long stint with the Golden State Warriors that yielded three championships. Looney is expected to serve as the backup center behind the newly acquired starter, filling the void left by the trade of Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards. The contract, confirmed by Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar, gives the Lakers a reliable, experienced big man who can provide spacing, rebounding, and veteran leadership while the team continues to chase its primary free‑agent target.
That target remains Jonathan Kuminga, the versatile wing who became an unrestricted free agent after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option on June 29. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick met virtually with Kuminga the following day, outlining a vision in which he would log significant minutes as a wing alongside Luka Doncic. The pitch emphasized a spacious on‑court environment that would allow Kuminga to showcase his athleticism, defensive versatility, and improving jump shot, positioning him as a core piece of the Lakers’ future build‑around.
Despite the enthusiastic outreach, Los Angeles has already allocated a substantial portion of its available cap space to other acquisitions. The team secured agreements with Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton, using up most of its financial wiggle room. Consequently, the Lakers now have only one open roster spot remaining after the Looney signing, and little cap space left to present a competitive initial offer to Kuminga. Nevertheless, the franchise has not abandoned its pursuit; Pelinka remains in regular contact with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, gradually sweetening the proposal while reiterating the player’s importance to the Lakers’ long‑term plans around Doncic and the potential career upside of a starring role in Los Angeles.
Kuminga and Turner, however, have hesitated to accept the current offer, believing that more lucrative avenues may still emerge as the offseason unfolds. One possibility involves a sign‑and‑trade with the Atlanta Hawks, which would allow Kuminga to retain his Bird rights and potentially secure a contract closer to his desired value. Atlanta’s general manager, Onsi Saleh, would need to be incentivized to facilitate such a move, and the Lakers could sweeten the deal by attaching assets such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and draft capital—including three second‑round picks and a 2032 first‑round pick swap—to make the trade palatable for both sides.
Another scenario discussed by sources envisions Kuminga returning to the Hawks on a more team‑friendly contract than the $24.3 million option they just declined, though no active negotiations along those lines are currently underway. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have expressed continued interest in Kuminga, citing his comfort with Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who coached him during his first three seasons with the Warriors. However, Cleveland’s front office is presently engrossed in the LeBron James sweepstakes, which limits its ability to aggressively pursue Kuminga at this time.
The Sacramento Kings, who were strong suitors for Kuminga last summer, have re‑checked his interest level but acknowledge their financial constraints. Without sufficient cap space, Sacramento would need to execute a sign‑and‑trade to acquire the wing—a route they have so far been reluctant to explore. As a result, the Lakers remain the most aggressive pursuer of Kuminga before any potential LeBron James‑related domino effect reshapes the market.
In summary, while the Lakers have solidified their interior depth with the addition of Kevon Looney, their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga remains active but hampered by recent cap commitments. The team is leveraging ongoing dialogue, improved offers, and potential sign‑and‑trade packages to try to convince Kuminga that Los Angeles offers the best combination of opportunity, role, and long‑term growth. Kuminga’s camp, however, appears willing to wait for more favorable terms, keeping the outcome of this offseason saga uncertain as other franchises monitor the situation and await further developments.