The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the third year of the Luka Doncic era with what some analysts describe as the weakest roster of that entire stretch. The team has lost Marcus Smart, who was described as wildly important to the lineup, and another key player has also departed, leaving a thinner margin for error around the franchise cornerstone. The central concern is a starting forward spot that remains unresolved. The Lakers are reportedly searching for a player capable of defending, rebounding, and absorbing the physical burden that Doncic cannot carry on his own.
Without that addition, the current options may not be strong enough to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference. Jonathan Kuminga has emerged as a primary target in the conversation. He is not viewed as a perfect player, but he checks more boxes than most realistic alternatives. Analysts point to his size, athleticism, rebounding, and defensive potential, as well as his ability to start immediately.
By comparison, players like Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, and Matisse Thybulle are considered bench-level pieces who do not offer the same combination of skills. A proposed sign-and-trade for Kuminga has been discussed in the range of three years and $36-39 million, roughly $12-13 million per season. At that price, it is viewed as a team-friendly deal worth taking. However, if the cost climbs closer to $50-60 million, the risk becomes harder to justify.
The Lakers, according to the analysis, are not looking for another half measure. They are looking for a legitimate starter, with one commentator summarizing the situation as not necessarily “Kuminga or bust” but “starter or bust. ”
Cam Johnson has been raised as a possible alternative. He is seen as an upgrade over the current group, offering perimeter defense, shooting, and size.
His expiring contract would also provide flexibility, potentially allowing the Lakers to acquire him now and flip him before the trade deadline if the fit does not work. Still, Johnson is not viewed as a good defender, and the Lakers are said to need at least a good defender at that forward position to cover for Doncic’s limitations on the perimeter. The defensive fit next to Doncic is a recurring theme in the discussion. Doncic is most effective defensively as a low man, using his size to rebound, jump passing lanes, and wall off drives near the basket.
When he is pulled out into open space, opposing teams can exploit that weakness. The forward alongside him therefore needs to provide perimeter defense to keep Doncic closer to the basket. If the Lakers fail to land that type of player, the concern is a chain reaction across the roster. Starting a player like Williams or LaRavia would put additional pressure on Doncic to create more, make the defense more fragile, and strain the bench’s flexibility.
The standard being referenced is the level of teams like Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and New York, and the current supporting cast is not seen as comparable. There is also a note of skepticism about whether a trade for Kuminga can happen at all, particularly given that rival teams may be wary of helping the Lakers. However, the Lakers are described as one of the few teams that could realistically benefit from a three-for-one trade, consolidating several useful pieces into a single legitimate starter rather than collecting more players. The broader assessment of the roster is mixed.
Some analysts argue the current starting group may be worse than last season’s, but the bench is considered significantly better, even before factoring in a potential addition like Kuminga or P. J. Washington. That addition, if made, would clearly tilt the starting group into a stronger unit.
The bottom line, according to the discussion, is that the Lakers’ next move could define the entire season before it begins. The team is facing a choice between becoming a contender or struggling under the weight of an unresolved weakness in the starting lineup.
