Lakers are reportedly aggressively pursuing Kuminga! If they waive Vanderbilt, they could free up about $7 million in cap space to make an offer.

According to Lakers beat reporter Woike, the Lakers are making a strong push for Jonathan Kuminga as of July 2. The versatile wing, who boasts significant developmental potential, is under serious consideration by the Lakers. Having previously suited up for Golden State and Atlanta, Kuminga saw his $24.3 million team option rejected by the Hawks recently.

After Luka Doncic made it clear he expects major roster upgrades for the 2026-27 season, the Lakers have been very aggressive in this summer's free agency market.

The Lakers suffered several key losses at the start of free agency, most notably the unexpected departure of LeBron James. In addition, sharpshooter Luke Kennard, defensive specialist Marcus Smart, and other essential free agents also left the team.

However, general manager Rob Pelinka quickly responded with multiple signings to reinforce the roster. The biggest acquisition was Walker Kessler: the Lakers traded with the Utah Jazz to obtain the center and then signed him to a four-year, $130 million contract.

The Lakers also signed guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, along with forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Are these moves enough to make the Lakers a legitimate championship contender?

Many believe Pelinka's offseason work is far from finished, but the problem is that the Lakers have very limited cap space left and cannot add any more free agents. The team can only sign a veteran to a minimum-salary deal, with no further flexibility.

Now, the Lakers are linked to free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. If they waive Jarred Vanderbilt and stretch his salary, they could create roughly $7 million in cap space, enough to make a competitive offer for Kuminga.

Last season (2025-26), Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. The Lakers have been interested in him since earlier this year, and signing the forward remains a possibility now.

If they manage to sign Kuminga, the Lakers' offseason reinforcements could be complete. However, it remains uncertain whether Pelinka can pull off this deal.