The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the more active teams this summer, with the roster experiencing a major overhaul. After so many changes, there is some uncertainty about what comes next, but the Lakers are not yet done making moves.
According to insider Dave McMenamin, the Purple and Gold fully intend to fill that final roster spot, despite limited flexibility. They reportedly believe this signing could be crucial for their goals next season, and they already have a target in mind to finalize their rotation: young swingman Jonathan Kuminga.
“There’s one empty roster spot remaining,” reported ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “They view this final spot as a very important piece to their potential puzzle. One guy they’re speaking to is Jonathan Kuminga… Atlanta turned down their $24 million team option this year, and the Lakers don’t have anywhere close to that to offer them. But they’re trying to pitch opportunity. You will come here, you’ll play on the biggest stage in basketball, and you may have to take a pay cut for a year or two, but you can get back into the big dollars.”
While other teams might save roster space for the sake of future flexibility, the Lakers are determined to maximize their depth. After making a promise to Luka Doncic about the summer of 2026, GM Rob Pelinka knew that the time to go all-in was now, prompting a rush to retool the roster with available free agents.
So far, this summer’s additions include Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Cameron Carr, and Jaden Hardy. They will join Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves next season in their first stretch without the King. And while many fans believe the roster won’t get significantly better from here, it won’t stop GM Rob Pelinka from looking around for one last signing. In fact, he believes that their final team addition could play an instrumental role in their performance next season. The question is, who will they bring in?
As it stands, the Lakers can only afford to pay the minimum, but they can still pick up decent role players on the market, including veterans like Nicolas Batum, Gary Payton II, Gabe Vincent, and Seth Curry. Alternatively, if the Lakers are willing to offer Jarred Vanderbilt in a pick swap, they could try to add Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal.
Regardless of who the Lakers add, it’s clear they are all-in on the title pursuit, and it’s the only way to impress Luka Doncic. After completing his first full season as a Laker, he expects the Lakers to build a proper team around him, and the latest indications are that he couldn’t be happier with the direction they are moving.
Ultimately, however, the hard work has only just begun for Los Angeles. Even when they find that final player, it will only just start the process of incorporating a newly assembled team. But regardless of who else they bring in, the Lakers must learn to clean up their own mistakes before they can hope to keep pace with the top contenders.
