The Los Angeles Lakers have all but completely overhauled their rotation with a surplus of new additions. In saying that, there are still perceived flaws that Los Angeles will need to resolve internally or address externally in order to help Luka Doncic compete for a championship. The apparent hope is that Jonathan Kuminga can fill that void, as Los Angeles has been in a lengthy pursuit of his services.
Kuminga is a fairly polarizing player, however, which thus creates the impetus to ask the question: Even if the Lakers sign him, where else should they be looking for help?
Los Angeles has locked in three starters with Doncic, Walker Kessler, and Reaves. Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili are also expected to play prominent roles after signing four-year deals worth a combined $112 million.
The Lakers even added a productive sixth man in Collin Sexton, a championship-winning backup center in Kevon Looney, and a number of intriguing wings who could offer two-way value.
Uncertainty persists along the wings, however, without a true 3-and-D wing having established themselves. Additionally, Looney played just 21 games this past season and Los Angeles could thus need to create insurance in the frontcourt.
Thankfully, there are three ideal trade candidates for the Lakers to consider and thus potentially acquire to resolve those very issues—whether that be in the short term or even around the trade deadline.
3. Isaiah Stewart, Memphis Grizzlies
Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies only recently acquire Isaiah Stewart via trade. And yes, Memphis has a $15 million team option for Stewart that puts the ball in its court as far as retaining him beyond the 2026-27 season is concerned.
The Grizzlies also have considerable interior depth, however, which beckons the question: If the likes of Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, and Quinten Post—who signed a three-year deal with Memphis earlier this summer—push Stewart out of the rotation, could he be up for a trade?
It's a bit of a long shot, but it's one Los Angeles should seriously pursue if the opportunity arises to do so. Minutes at the 4 and 5 spots are going to be tough to come by in Memphis, and Stewart's $15 million salary could make him too expensive to justify retaining beyond this season.
After Stewart ranked in the 98th percentile in rim protection and overall screener defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index, it's impossible to view him as anything other than an elite defender. If Memphis doesn't, Los Angeles certainly has space for that type of player behind Kessler.
2. Derrick Jones Jr., LA Clippers
Derrick Jones Jr. is a top-tier wing defender and a quality shooter who helped Doncic reach the 2024 NBA Finals as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Those factors not only make him appealing for the Lakers, but a player whom the LA Clippers are unlikely to want to move.
Jones has an expiring $10,476,190 contract, however, which could lead the Clippers to exploring trade options if they believe he won't re-sign the following summer.
That would be a dream outcome for the Lakers. Jones isn't a knockdown shooter, but he buried a quality 37.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes this past season. More importantly, he ranked in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index.
If the Lakers ultimately feel as though their wing defense is insufficient and they're willing to potentially part with draft capital, Jones would be an excellent player to prioritize.
1. Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks
Who's up for a reunion?
The Lakers traded Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks as a part of the deal that brought Doncic to Los Angeles. Two years later, the Lakers should at least call Dallas ahead of the 2027 trade deadline and see how willing they are to part with the 3-and-D wing.
Christie is a talented young player, but he also has an $8,857,143 player option for the 2027-28 season and may decline it in favor of a long-term contract.
Clearly, Dallas would be wise to re-sign Christie, who's 23 and coming off of a season in which he shot 40.4 percent on 5.8 three-point field goals per game. Christie also ranked in the 93rd percentile in perimeter isolation defense and off-ball chaser defense in 2025-26.
Considering Christie will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, however, Dallas may be inclined to trade him if he indicates that he won't re-sign. If that proves to be the case, the Lakers should move mountains to pursue a reunion.
Kuminga could help in other ways, but Christie, Jones, and Stewart all represent opportunities to improve in areas that the polarizing free agent isn't known to specialize in.
Add us as a preferred source on Google