What’s next for Lakers after whiffing on Jonathan Kuminga?

The Lakers’ long-shot bid to sign rising star Jonathan Kuminga collapsed after the forward finalized a two-year deal with the Timberwolves, ending their pursuit of a key young talent. The move leaves the team without a major addition to address a critical roster need, despite their aggressive pursuit over the past two months. Kuminga’s commitment to Minnesota—including a $6.4 million player option for the 2027-28 season—caps a swift turnaround in free agency for the forward. The Lakers’ failure to secure his services marks another setback in their offseason rebuild.

After a two-month long pursuit, the Lakers’ quest in adding Jonathan Kuminga to their roster came to a halt this week, leaving them empty-handed for one of their biggest needs. With Kuminga agreeing to a two-year, $12.4 million contract ($6.4 million player option for 2027-28) with the Timberwolves on Wednesday, the Lakers came up short...