The Los Angeles Lakers may be coming off a strong 115-107 road win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, but roster changes still appear likely as the February 5 trade deadline approaches.
Los Angeles has now won two straight games and shown signs of improvement, yet the broader trend remains concerning.
The Lakers have managed just three wins over their past eight games and have dropped nine of their last 16 overall, leaving little margin for error in a crowded Western Conference. As a result, the search for reinforcements remains active.
There is growing belief that general manager Rob Pelinka is continuing to explore the trade market, with a particular focus on adding a young, dependable two-way wing.
Lakers Re-Enter Jonathan Kuminga Trade Picture
A wide range of wings have been linked to Los Angeles in recent weeks, including Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Keon Ellis, DeAndre Hunter, Miles Bridges, and Andrew Wiggins.
One name, however, continues to resurface and that is Jonathan Kuminga.
According to Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle, the Lakers are among several teams monitoring the situation surrounding the Golden State Warriors forward, whose relationship with the organization has deteriorated.
“The Sacramento Kings remain the most interested suitor, with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks — whom the Warriors play Thursday — and Chicago Bulls wielding varying degrees of interest in Kuminga,” Gordon wrote.
Kuminga has been publicly at odds with head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors for months, a situation that has increasingly pointed towards an eventual move away from the franchise.
However, following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, he has briefly re-entered the rotation.
After not appearing in a game since December 18, the 23-year-old returned on Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors, Golden State’s first game since losing Butler.
In 21 minutes, Kuminga scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. It was an immediate impact performance, though it did little to quiet speculation about his long-term future.
“The NBA’s trade deadline is two weeks from Thursday, and league sources said Kuminga’s position hasn’t wavered despite returning Tuesday to Golden State’s rotation for the first time since Dec. 18,” Gordon added.
Trade Mechanics and Lakers Competition
Kuminga formally requested a trade on January 15, the first day he became eligible, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.
Charania later described the Congolese forward’s relationship with Kerr as “fractured beyond repair,” reinforcing the belief that a move is inevitable.
Through 19 games this season, Kuminga is averaging 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 44.5% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. At 23, he certainly fits the profile the Lakers are targeting.
Financially, Kuminga is earning $22.5 million this season and has a $24.3 million team option for next year. Any Lakers offer would likely be built around expiring contracts, including Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million).
The Lakers currently control just one tradable first-round pick from either 2031 or 2032. However, multiple reports suggest Pelinka is exploring ways to flip one of those picks into multiple selections to expand the team’s trade flexibility.
If successful, that approach could create a viable path to landing a Kuminga-caliber wing.
For now, though, the Kings appear to be leading the race, with a potential DeMar DeRozan-centered package viewed as a cleaner fit for Golden State following Butler’s injury.
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