The Los Angeles Lakers have added veteran center Kevon Looney on a one-year deal while still chasing Jonathan Kuminga, a move that keeps their offseason centered on one major question: whether they can still fit the wing they want.
According to ESPN, the Lakers agreed to pay Looney $3.9 million, giving them a backup big after sending Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards last week. Looney arrives after 10 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and a championship résumé that includes three titles.
Why Looney matters now
Looney is expected to back up the center spot, which became a need after the Ayton trade. He spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and now joins a Lakers roster that still has one open spot.
That extra room has not changed the team’s pursuit of Kuminga. The Lakers met with him virtually the day after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, and Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick presented a vision of a bigger role next to Luka Doncic.
The Kuminga push is still alive
Multiple people inside the organization, including players, have reached out to Kuminga to make their case, and Pelinka has stayed in contact with agent Aaron Turner. ESPN reports that the Lakers have also subtly improved their offer in recent days while emphasizing Kuminga’s importance to what they are building.
The challenge is financial. The Lakers used most of their available flexibility to secure commitments from Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, leaving little room to make Kuminga a strong offer without another move.
| Player | Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Kevon Looney | Signed | One-year deal worth $3.9 million, projected backup center |
| Jonathan Kuminga | Still pursued | Free agent after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option |
Possible paths if the Lakers want more room
A sign-and-trade remains one possible route, with Atlanta still open to facilitating a move that would help Kuminga keep his Bird rights and land the contract he wants. Any deal would likely require the Hawks to be incentivized, and the Lakers would need to send out contracts and probably attach an asset.
Los Angeles has several contracts it could use in such a move, including Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy. The team also still controls three second-round picks and a 2032 first-round pick swap, which could become part of the conversation.
Cleveland continues to monitor Kuminga as well, and his comfort with coach Kenny Atkinson gives the Cavaliers a real connection. But Cleveland is currently occupied with the LeBron James sweepstakes, which leaves the Lakers as the most aggressive team before that situation resolves.
The Sacramento Kings have checked in on Kuminga too, but they are limited financially and would need a sign-and-trade to seriously enter the race. For now, Los Angeles has its center insurance in place and is still trying to see whether there is enough left to land the wing it wants most.
