Jonathan Kuminga's talent is obvious. The former top-10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft came into the league raw, but it was always clear the upside to turn him into a legit player was there. The question is whether the free agent forward is who the Los Angeles Lakers need right now.
The Lakers do require a starting forward. That much is true. Kuminga does present a more attractive option, on the surface, than any of the guys they currently have available in-house.
What the Lakers need from a personality perspective is a guy who will sacrifice and buy in. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha put it well when describing the ideal scenario for Kuminga in Los Angeles being similar to that of Aaron Gordon with the Denver Nuggets or Andrew Wiggins with the Golden State Warriors.
What Buha meant by those comparisons was Kuminga being a former lottery pick who had All-Star or go-to ambitions, but ultimately accepting a number three or four role after acknowledging the other reality was out of reach. Mentally, the athletic forward may not have come to that realization just yet.
Jonathan Kuminga's prolonged free agency shows needed maturity is not there yet
If the upside play of Kuminga involves him becoming a Gordon or a Wiggins in the NBA, then this offseason has not been the best indicator of his readiness to be a similar player. Buha reappared on The Lakers Collective to present a good argument for that being the case.
"How this is all playing out, how much money he wants, and how difficult this process has been up to this point, this doesn't scream to me like team-first guy who's coming into this situation ready to put his hard hat on," Buha insisted.
Those feelings are easy to get behind. At the end of the day, the NBA is a business. Kuminga could just be trying to set himself up as best as possible, and that is all more than fair.
However, coupling this tough offseason pursuit with the player that has been showcased through his first five seasons is where the troubling gulp comes from. Why would the Lakers think Kuminga can change into what they need after continually showcasing a him-first approach?
Jonathan Kuminga may not be willing to change for the better in LA
To some capacity, this is a little too reminiscent of last year's Deandre Ayton situation. The Lakers are looking at the talent and enjoying the thought of molding it without fully contemplating the real willingness of the player involved.
Kuminga could not buy in during his time with the Warriors. Say what you will about Steve Kerr's shortcomings with player development, but Golden State has proven pedigree as being a winning culture.
If Kuminga could not be a part of that type of environment in the Bay Area, what has he done to really convince anyone he could do it in Los Angeles?
Two teams have given up on him so far throughout his NBA career, much like the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers both moved on from Ayton. The Lakers could be signing themselves up for another headache here if the move eventually materializes. Los Angeles would be wise to consider better-fitting alternatives in the meantime.
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