There's a realistic possibility that Jonathan Kuminga will sign with a team other than the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles is one of several teams in the running for him, with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves all emerging as fellow potential suitors.
If the Lakers ultimately miss out on Kuminga, then they may be forced to turn to the trade market to address their void at forward. The question is: Who should they be targeting?
It's easy to dream of big names and impact players who are fresh off of dominant seasons. The reality facing Los Angeles at this stage of free agency, however, is that realistic targets are those with a combination of factors that suggest they could, in fact, be attainable.
That starts with a former Luka Doncic teammate who could be an ideal candidate to step into the starting lineup and provide critical contributions—if the Lakers are willing to pay a hefty price.
3. P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks
One of two former Doncic teammates, P.J. Washington could slot in as an instant starter in Los Angeles. He's an athletic forward who can space the floor, play comfortably above the rim, and even create a reasonable degree of offense for himself.
Moreover, Washington reached the 2024 NBA Finals with Doncic—and with a hefty long-term salary on a team with a 19-year-old franchise player, he could thus be a trade candidate.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha recently floated the idea out of Los Angeles prioritizing Washington over Kuminga. It's a rational thought, as Washington is similar to Kuminga in the sense that he's an athletic forward with defensive versatility and aerial value.
Washington is also a career 35.4 percent three-point shooter who can work without the ball, bury shots from the corner, and provide spacing next to Walker Kessler.
The risk involved here is why Washington is ranked lowest. He may ultimately be the best player on this list, but he has four years and $88,762,439 left on his contract. That makes him a high-risk type of acquisition given how long and expensive his presence would be.
Though it would be another four-year commitment, if Doncic vouches for Washington, the Lakers should at least consider this endeavor.
2. Max Strus, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly looking to offload salary in order to clear space to make a roster addition of their own—with Kuminga being the most heavily rumored target. That's led Cleveland to considering a trade that would offload an ideal potential Lakers target: Max Strus.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype is the latest to report that the Cavaliers are looking to trade Strus' expiring $16,660,836 salary to clear space.
"As the Cavaliers survey the trade market, the expiring contracts of starting small forwardMax Strus ($16.66 million) and backup point guard Dennis [Schröder] ($14.81 million) are trade candidates."
The Lakers should be eager to kick the tires on what it would take for them to acquire Strus' expiring salary. He missed 70 games in 2025-26 after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, but he all but immediately returned to form.
Strus shot 40.2 percent from beyond the arc in his mere 12 regular season appearances, but solidified his return when he was one of Cleveland's most reliable reserves when they made their run to the 2026 Conference Finals.
A career 37.0 percent shooter from beyond the arc, Strus' ability to space the floor makes him an instantly appealing option. What clinches this potential pursuit is that, in 2024-25, he ranked in the 82nd percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 71st percentile in off-ball chaser defense, per Basketball Index.
It's unclear what the Cavaliers expect in exchange for Strus, but given that they're attempting to offload his contract, this is a pursuit worth embracing.
1. Derrick Jones Jr., LA Clippers
The dream outcome here would be for Derrick Jones Jr. to end up with the Lakers. Jones is an elite wing defender who excels at the point of attack, as well as a capable three-point shooter who played alongside Doncic when the Mavericks made their run to the NBA Finals.
In terms of why Jones is a realistic target, it comes down to the simple fact that he has an expiring $10,476,190 salary and the LA Clippers could prioritize long-term assets in his place.
If the Lakers are willing to part with reasonable draft capital, acquiring Jones would mean instantly improving the quality of their defense. In 2025-26, he ranked in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index. In 2024-25, he finished in the 96th percentile.
Elite at the point of attack, Jones offers invaluable versatility having defended all three perimeter positions for at least 22.54 percent of his possessions in 2025-26.
Compounded by his experience alongside Doncic, Jones is the ultimate trade target. It could prove costly to bring him on, but with an expiring contract and an ideal skill set for Los Angeles' system, it's at least worth exploring.
The Lakers need an elite wing defender who can space the floor. Jones is their best option among the realistic trade targets they could pursue.
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