The Los Angeles Lakers just wrapped up a team trip to Slovenia, hosted by Luka Doncic, and it sounds like the squad really came together. That’s great, right? Except they went on that trip with a glaring hole in their lineup, and it’s still wide open: the starting power forward spot. Two months of chasing Jonathan Kuminga went nowhere, leaving them in a tough spot.
The Kuminga Miss and What It Means
Can you believe Kuminga slipped through their fingers? After all that talk, the 23-year-old NBA champion, who split his fifth season between the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors after getting traded on February 5, officially inked a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s going to rock #24 there, and honestly, it leaves the Lakers scrambling. That starting power forward position is flat out LA’s weakest spot right now, and nobody seems to know how it’s going to get filled. Svyatoslav Rovenchuk from Lake Show Life nailed it, saying, “Then, there is the power forward position. This is the last domino among the starting lineup that really does not have full clarity yet. There are certainly players internally, and even externally, who could fill the vacancy.” It’s a massive question mark heading into the season.
The $88M Solution Hiding in Plain Sight?
This team knows they could be in trouble if they don’t find the right player. Luckily, Lakers insider Jovan Buha has a guy in mind: P.J. Washington. Buha’s vision is clear, telling everyone to “Pursue the upgrade now, and specifically a starting level player. I think PJ Washington is a starter on a good team that wants to compete with San Antonio and OKC. I do think PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. would be great fits.” This isn’t just a random name either. Washington’s best basketball actually happened playing alongside Luka Doncic, their current point guard! He’s on an $88 million contract with the Mavericks right now, and he’s exactly the kind of player who could fill that lineup hole. He can shoot from deep and he can rim-run like it’s nothing.
So, the question for the Lakers is huge: Do they pull the trigger on a trade for Washington? With that kind of money on the line and his proven chemistry with Doncic, it feels like a no brainer. They desperately need that starting power forward, and Washington looks like the perfect fit to finally solidify that starting lineup. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on to get this sorted.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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