The Los Angeles Lakers' newest wing is Matisse Thybulle, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that the two sides agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal. It doesn't automatically rule them out from landing Jonathan Kuminga, but it's enough to make you wonder if this is LA pivoting from the 23-year-old.
Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Monday that momentum between the Lakers and Kuminga had stalled, with the two sides being "far apart on terms" (subscription required).
Talk about interesting timing, with Los Angeles signing Thybulle for about $22 million less than what Kuminga is reportedly seeking. Adding the former Trail Blazers wing is a low-risk move that may not turn into a high reward, but that doesn't mean it won't pay off.
The Lakers entered the offseason knowing they needed to upgrade the wing position, which became even more so the case after losing Marcus Smart to Houston. Adding Thybulle to the mix benefits LA, and when it comes to Kuminga, the 29-year-old is a better shooter, though there are concerns with his durability.
Lakers sign Matisse Thybulle as Kuminga talks go cold
Thybulle isn't the starting wing that fans are hoping Los Angeles would land, but he's a solid option to have off the bench. Added depth is never a bad thing, but in this case, the Lakers now have 16 players on the roster with guaranteed contracts, so they'll have to cut that by one to make room for the newest addition.
Technically speaking, Kuminga is still an option, but the Thybulle move complicates the picture even more for Los Angeles, as the team would need to trade more than Jarred Vanderbilt, requiring more maneuvering. Bronny James comes to mind, but as Woike recently reported, it's not a foregone conclusion that he will end up where LeBron goes.
The Lakers could circle back to the Kuminga negotiations if the opportunity presents itself, but this could've been their way of saying they're moving forward without him. They're right not to cave to the kind of contract that his camp is looking for, nor lose more assets this summer in a sign-and-trade after what it gave up to get Walker Kessler.
Thybulle doesn't give LA the infusion of youth and athleticism that Kuminga would, but this was still a good move. Time will tell if it actually signaled the end of the JK pursuit, but it may very well have.
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