The Los Angeles Lakers remain aware of a widening gap between themselves and the top tier of the Western Conference, and league insiders expect that reality to shape their approach ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
While the Lakers have flashed offensive upside, defensive consistency — particularly at the point of attack — has been a recurring issue. As JJ Redick navigates the sideline, the front office appears focused on finding a wing defender with size who can hold his own defensively without becoming a liability offensively.
One name continues to surface in league conversations: Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
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Lakers Monitoring Jonathan Kuminga Situation
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers were among several teams that contacted the Warriors over the summer to gauge Kuminga’s availability during his restricted free agency standoff — and that interest has not faded.
“The purple-and-gold’s known preference at this deadline is to acquire a true 3-and-D wing with size if possible to provide some point-of-attack resistance on the perimeter as well as some shooting, but it must be said the Lakers, according to sources, did call Golden State about Kuminga during the sides’ summer standoff in restricted free agency,” Fischer wrote.
“I’m told that the Lakers have likewise continued to monitor Kuminga’s situation while casting a wide net to try to find help on a very limited wing market.”
Kuminga, 22, checks many of the physical boxes the Lakers covet. At 6-foot-7 with elite athleticism, he has long been viewed as a potential two-way force. However, his role under Steve Kerr has fluctuated dramatically, and he has never hidden his frustration with inconsistent playing time.
Whether Kuminga could carve out a meaningful role alongside ball-dominant stars like Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves is an open question — and one that likely factors into Golden State’s own evaluation of his future.
Contract Details Create Trade Flexibility
Before the season, Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million contract to end a prolonged stalemate with the Warriors. As part of that deal, he waived his inherent no-trade clause, making him eligible to be moved once trade restrictions lift on Jan. 15.
The second year of the contract includes a team option, a structure that provides flexibility for Golden State — or any team that acquires him — ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
That flexibility is precisely why Kuminga continues to draw interest despite uneven on-court results.
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Lakers Protecting Their Most Valuable Trade Asset
What remains unclear is Golden State’s asking price.
The Lakers have been willing to explore deals involving rotation players such as Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht in other trade conversations, but their 2032 first-round pick is considered untouchable.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, that selection carries unique strategic value.
“Trading that pick would lock the team’s ability to trade the 2031 pick now and the 2033 pick this summer. So, yeah, the 2032 pick probably isn’t going anywhere,” Woike wrote.
“With Wiggins, I don’t know if he’s really available or if he’s worth it at this price point.”
Because of those constraints, any realistic Kuminga deal would likely involve salary matching and secondary draft compensation rather than a marquee future pick.
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Growing League-Wide Interest in Kuminga
The Lakers are not alone in monitoring the situation.
NBC Sports’ Dalton Johnson recently reported that the Kings, Bulls, and Wizards all have “different levels of interest” in Kuminga. The Mavericks have also reached out to Golden State, according to Johnson.
Washington, in particular, has emerged as an intriguing possibility after reshaping its roster and clearing significant financial flexibility. Meanwhile, Johnson noted that Golden State has shown no interest in moving veteran wing Jimmy Butler, whom the Warriors acquired from Miami just one year ago.
Playing Time and Production Raise Questions
Kuminga’s on-court situation has only added to the speculation.
After starting the first 12 games of the season, he was moved to the bench amid underwhelming play. A stretch of seven missed games due to bilateral knee tendinitis followed, and while he briefly returned to the rotation in late November, his role quickly diminished again.
He has been listed as a DNP in 13 of Golden State’s past 16 games and has not played since Dec. 18 against Philadelphia.
In 18 appearances this season (13 starts), Kuminga is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 24.8 minutes per game while shooting a career-low 43.1 percent from the field.
A Familiar Lakers Deadline Pattern
For the Lakers, the situation reflects a familiar deadline approach: aggressively exploring upgrades while carefully protecting long-term flexibility.
Kuminga’s upside is undeniable, but his fit, cost, and development timeline remain complicated variables. Whether Los Angeles ultimately finds a path to a deal — or simply continues monitoring from a distance — will depend on how desperate the wing market becomes as Feb. 5 approaches.
For now, the interest is real, the groundwork has been laid, and the Lakers appear ready to act if the right opportunity emerges.