The Los Angeles Lakers are one of several teams competing to sign unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Los Angeles has reportedly offered Kuminga a two-year, $20 million contract in a potential sign-and-trade that would send Jarred Vanderbilt elsewhere.
Though the logistics of a deal have been complicated by Kuminga's reported counter of $20 million per season, there's still reason to evaluate the pros and cons of proceeding as planned.
Kuminga is the epitome of divisive. There are many in the camp of Kuminga being a victim of circumstance through five years, as the Golden State Warriors arguably never positioned him to develop in a way that aligned with his existing skill set.
There are just as many, however, who believe that Kuminga could've done more to improve his off-ball value and defensive consistency.
Regardless of where one might fall on the Kuminga spectrum, there's one unavoidable truth: The Lakers are interested in signing him. As such, both the pros and cons of what he can bring to the table must be acknowledged and evaluated.
There appear to be more pros than cons with Kuminga, but a question persists: Does the good outweigh the bad enough to justify the risk?
Pro: Athletic lob target for Luka Doncic
According to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, one of the primary requests that Luka Doncic had for the Lakers this offseason was for them to acquire athletic lob threats. Doncic is one of the best pick-and-roll playmakers in the NBA and has experienced resounding success with targets of that nature.
Though Kuminga hasn't been utilized extensively in the pick and roll in the past, his size and athleticism certainly suggest he could excel as the lob target Doncic covets.
Kuminga can work the baseline, set screens and roll, or even get out in transition for lobs from Doncic. He's also adept at creating his own offense, which adds a new wrinkle to pick-and-roll action, even if a lob isn't the result of it.
For a Lakers team that has fairly grounded big men on the roster, adding an explosive 6'7" forward who can work the 4-spot is certainly an appealing option.
Con: Erratic three-point shooting
The single biggest reason to second guess Kuminga's fit with the Lakers is his history of erratic three-point shooting. Los Angeles plays heavily through Doncic and Austin Reaves, with the ball-dominant guards each displaying a preference to get downhill in order to initiate offense.
If Kuminga struggles as a catch-and-shoot option, then the Lakers' spacing could be compromised and neither Doncic nor Reaves will be positioned to play their preferred style on offense.
Kuminga is a career 33.2 percent three-point shooter who has converted at a rate of 33.6 percent or worse in four of his five NBA campaigns. He shot an impressive 37.0 percent from beyond the arc during the lone exception, but three full seasons have passed since he did so in 2022-23.
Until Kuminga proves he can at least hold opposing defenses accountable as a shooter, there's thus reason for skepticism in regard to his fit on offense.
Pro: Shot creation skill
For all of the questions about his off-ball fit, Kuminga is an unavoidably intriguing option in regard to his shot creation ability. As it stands, the Lakers have clear first and second options, but lack a defined No. 3 on the offensive end of the floor.
Kuminga certainly has the potential to fill that void, with career averages of 12.5 points per game and 20.3 points per 36 minutes on 50.2 percent shooting from the field.
Kuminga's success has come in the form of creating his own offense in systems that didn't always accentuate his strengths. He attacks closeouts, can dribble past slower defenders, and skies above the rim for athletic finishes near the rim.
Kuminga may or may not be the long-term answer as a third option, but having him in the rotation could help resolve the need for shot creation from the wings—an element Los Angeles arguably lacks at this stage.
Con: Defensive inconsistency
Kuminga has shown flashes of brilliance on the defensive end of the floor. His size, strength, and athleticism allow him to defend a variety of positions and playing styles, and he's showcased the ability to deliver on his potential.
Unfortunately, those flashes of brilliance haven't yet translated to consistent displays of quality. As such, there's risk involved in this gamble.
The pro that begins to offset the con is that Kuminga bought in on defense with the Atlanta Hawks in 2025-26 and played well at the point of attack. The con, however, is that he played just 16 regular season games with Atlanta and therefore doesn't exactly have a strong sample size of performances to truly silence the concerns.
Kuminga is capable of greatness on defense, but his inconsistent buy-in has to be acknowledged in any conversation about his potential fit with the Lakers.
Pro: Untapped potential
For all that's been said thus far, there's one pivotal truth to remember: Kuminga is only 23. He's a five-year veteran, but he still has youth on his side and truthfully doesn't have all that much wear and tear on his body after playing in limited roles up to this point in his career.
As a proven postseason scorer with shot creation skills and clear two-way potential, there's fair reason for optimism in regard to what he can become.
Kuminga has averaged 14.6 points in 24.5 minutes per game between his past 14 postseason appearances. He also ranked in the 86th percentile in perimeter isolation defense in 2025-26. Even with his flaws, it's thus worth asking: How many under-25 players are there who have proven adept at scoring in the playoffs and defending at a high level in isolation?
Perhaps that's blind faith and nothing more than it, but Kuminga's untapped potential is the great equalizer that makes him worth a reasonable investment.
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