There is a great snippet from the TV show Arrested Development that can perfectly capture the feelings on the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly eyeing Jonathan Kuminga as a risky upside gamble after their initial wave of free agent additions. You can find that immaculate reference right below.
In all seriousness, Kuminga is currently available as an unrestricted free agent after failing to secure a long-term home for himself with the Golden State Warriors or the Atlanta Hawks. Dan Woike of The Athletic reported the Lakers do indeed have their eyes on the 23-year-old.
"The team, according to league sources ... is still seeking a young wing to help its perimeter defense. A high-upside swing receiving significant consideration, per league sources, is ... Jonathan Kuminga, whose $24.3 million team option was recently declined by Atlanta."
Kuminga is an extremely flawed young player. That has been made clear by the fact that two teams have already given up on the athletic forward. However, desperation breeds opportunity. The former lottery pick could get one more crack to prove he can carve out a meaningful role on a good team with the Lakers.
Lakers' thin wing depth creates the opening Jonathan Kuminga needs
Has anyone looked at the current projected depth chart for the Lakers? Those wings are crying out for more support. If Los Angeles were to simply roll into next season as, more or less, currently constructed, they would be doing themselves no favors.
If Woike is to be believed, there is more coming. That more could come in the form of Kuminga.
The Lakers could easily extend a one-year prove-it deal to the former Warrior and Hawk. They can hand him the minimum and tell Kuminga to go show them (and the rest of the league) why he deserves more.
They could also create a path to give themselves more control over his future in Los Angeles. The Lakers could waive and stretch Jarred Vanderbilt's contract to create added financial wiggle room. That would allow them to hand Kuminga a multi-year deal that could hopefully create value if JJ Redick can bring them best out of him in Los Angeles.
There are two primary things the Lakers would need to see in his development, should they run the risk of bringing him into the mix.
The first of those is a willingness to mesh offensively. The Warriors gave up on Kuminga, and understandably so, after seeing years of tunnel vision and ball stopping. The Lakers would need him to take a back seat to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, becoming more selective with picking his spots. An improved jumper would aid the cause greatly, too.
The second thing that Los Angeles would require is elite defense. Kuminga has the athletic tools to be a major plus on that end. The Lakers would need him to use every bit of those to become the wing stopper they are desperately missing on the roster right now.
If that type of buy-in can happen, the Lakers can succeed where others have failed with Kuminga. Otherwise, assuming they do give him a shot, Los Angeles could just end up as the latest team to give up on him after Golden State traded him away and Atlanta chose to spend the money of his team option elsewhere.
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