Lakers' Top Free-Agent, Trade Targets After Jonathan Kuminga Rejects Contract Offer for Wolves Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost the race for free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers offered Kuminga a starting role and a deal worth $12 million-plus per year, but he ultimately decided to go to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Having missed out on Kuminga, the Lakers will have to look elsewhere to finalize the roster. Some top free agent and trade targets for Los Angeles could be PJ Washington, De'Andre Hunter and Bruce Brown.

Washington is under contract with the Dallas Mavericks through the 2029-30 campaign, and his $19.8 million salary for the upcoming season might be a deterrent for the Lakers, but they could include a player like Jarred Vanderbilt to free up some salary cap space.

The 28-year-old is coming off a solid season in which he averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a steal per game. Washington plays a similar role to Kuminga as a versatile forward, but he's arguably a better option, albeit for a higher price.

It's also worth noting that Washington played alongside Luka Dončić when the Mavs reached the Finals in 2024, so there's some chemistry with the Lakers' leader.

Hunter is a possible trade candidate for the Kings as they look to shed some cap space and avoid the luxury tax, so the Lakers could land the 28-year-old for a relatively affordable price.

While he had a bit of a down year last year, Hunter shot north of 40 percent from deep during the 2024-25 campaign and would offer Dončić a sharpshooter to dish it to on the wing.

Hunter does carry a $24.9 million cap hit, though, so making a trade for him would be a bit of a risk since he wasn't at his best last year.

Brown said last December that he planned to sign with the Lakers after the Denver Nuggets' 2023 title run (h/t SI's Ryan Ward ). Now, he could have the chance to play in Los Angeles.

Brown, a free agent, would likely be a much more affordable option than Washington or Hunter, giving Los Angeles a bit more flexibility if it wants to make any other moves during the regular season.

The 30-year-old could offer solid perimeter defense and shooting off the bench behind Austin Reaves.

While the Lakers might be a bit eager to add a player before the season starts, another option could be to let the current roster play together and then decide closer to the trade deadline what exactly it needs to make a playoff run.