Jonathan Kuminga, the former $46 million champion, is reportedly out of reach for the Los Angeles Lakers, forcing the team to pivot hard and sign Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million deal on Monday morning. After weeks of intense focus on Kuminga as their prime target, the Lakers decided they couldn’t wait around forever.
The Chase for Kuminga Hit a Wall
So, here’s the deal. The Lakers have been scrambling to find a starting wing, right? This whole thing kicked off after LeBron James told the organization he wouldn’t be returning. Yeah, LeBron’s eight seasons holding down that wing role for LA are over, with their relationship apparently fading over the years. Naturally, the Lakers set their sights on Jonathan Kuminga. Reports from NBA insider Evan Sidery even confirmed “mutual free agent interest between Jonathan Kuminga and the Lakers,” with LA working hard behind the scenes for his commitment. Kuminga was previously on a hefty $46 million contract with the Hawks, and he even snagged an NBA championship with Golden State before his time there ended abruptly. For several weeks, he seemed like *the guy* the Lakers were zeroing in on. But then, boom, everything stalled. The two sides just couldn’t agree on terms, and The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported the Lakers weren’t “overly motivated to push significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios.” What a twist, huh?
Hello, Thybulle: A Defensive Pivot
With the Kuminga momentum completely dead in the water, the Lakers didn’t waste any time. Monday morning, they signed Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. This dude is a two-time All-Defensive team member, so you know what the Lakers are after: perimeter defense. Thybulle apparently chatted with JJ Redick and Luka Doncic about the Lakers’ desire for him and his role before choosing the opportunity. It’s clear the need for that wing defense, especially after the Kuminga chase went nowhere, pushed them to pull the trigger on Thybulle. They weren’t willing to get bogged down in another drawn-out negotiation for Kuminga.
The Lakers now seem to feel like they’re “on the outside looking in” with Kuminga, but don’t think they’re done. They’ve already checked in with the Dallas Mavericks about PJ Washington as another potential alternative at the position. This summer, LA is making aggressive moves, and it looks like they’re just getting started.
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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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