There has been so much talk about Jonathan Kuminga and the Los Angeles Lakers over the last week that one would be forgiven for missing literally anything else going on in Hollywood. The reported mutual interest between the two sides has been at a deafening pitch.
What if this is all a part of a much bigger picture for the Lakers? Let us entertain the idea of putting on the tinfoil hat for a second here. Perhaps chasing Kuminga is a leverage play for Los Angeles to go and get who they really want to pair alongside Luka Doncic. That would be P.J. Washington.
The 2026 NBA Draft gave two examples of the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks working together on trades again. Those phone lines are active once more. However, the latest from Khobi Price did suggest Los Angeles is wary of taking on P.J.'s big money.
"The Lakers have long been tied to trade rumors with Mavericks forward PJ Washington, a former teammate of Doncic’s in Dallas, but the fully guaranteed $88.8 million Washigton’s owed over the next four years isn’t appealing to the Lakers."
Again, do not put down the tinfoil hat just yet. Is that a face value statement, or yet another effort to potentially bring his trade price down in potential negotiations with Masai Ujiri and the front office in Dallas?
P.J. Washington could be the player Lakers actually want over Jonathan Kuminga
Why would the Lakers go through all these lengths to get their hands on Washington? It is simple, actually. There is a proven fit beside Doncic and their assets for trade negotiations are currently lackluster.
Maximizing just how much they can bring the cost down on Washington would help the overall asset management and team building in Los Angeles. Why get a guy at a premium when you can acquire them on a bargain instead?
It is like haggling over a price at a street market. You know deep down you would pay more, but is there not an extra feeling of satisfaction that comes with securing a good deal?
Circle back to Kuminga for a moment. The core issues between those two sides have had to do with money. The Lakers could solve that through a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, but have yet to truly pounce on that avenue.
Perhaps some of the dots connected here are a touch ambitious in their thinking. However, can anyone confidently rule out the possibility of the Lakers just positioning themselves for the best value they can get on a Washington trade?
Add us as a preferred source on Google