Lakers Notes: Kuminga, Kessler, Grimes, Luka, LeBron

however lakers were ultimately defeated surprisingly on Wednesday jaylen brown The trade deal between the Celtics and Sixers, the flurry of free agent deals in Los Angeles seemed like the NBA’s biggest story of the day for much of July 1.

In the span of 35 minutes, the team went from having over $50MM of cap room to using that entire space – with the exception of its $9.4MM room – to secure commitments walker kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, quentin grimesAnd Colin Sexton.

However, given the brunt of their offseason work, the Lakers continue to keep an eye on a young wing who can help improve their perimeter defense, league sources told Dan Woik of The Athletic. One potential target receiving “significant” consideration is the 23-year-old forward, Woike reports. Jonathan Kuminga.

After using all of its cap space and its room exception, Los Angeles will only have access to the minimum salary exception. To give Kuminga — or any other free agent — more than the veteran’s minimum, L.A. would need to work out a sign-and-trade agreement with the player’s former team. Players acquired via sign-and-trade must sign for a minimum of three years, although only the first season is fully guaranteed.

We have more on the Lakers:

• Describing Kessler as “a player” (Luka) Doncic Woike cites a team source most wanted at center, who says the Lakers believe the former Jazz center guard fits in “perfectly” with Doncic and. Austin Reeves. Los Angeles would pay a hefty price to acquire Kessler by sending two first-round picks and two pick swaps to Utah in a sign-and-trade deal.
• lakers head coach JJ Reddick Team and league sources told Woike they have been longtime fans of Grimes, who say the team’s four-year, $60MM deal for the former Sixer is a bet on his ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor.
• All indications are that the two have been divorced. Lebron James And the Lakers have moved as smoothly as possible to a split of this nature between a superstar and a team. Woike heard from sources that James and Doncic had no personal issues with each other and that they bonded over their newfound love of golf, while Khobi Price of the California Post noted (via Twitter) that Doncic posted an Instagram Story calling it an honor to “play and learn” with the four-time MVP. LeBron also responded to the Lakers’ statement, calling him a “cherished part of the Lakers family” with an equally flattering message (Twitter link). “No thanks!,” James wrote. “It’s truly an honor to wear (the purple and gold) while trying to continue the greatness and legacy that came before me! Hopefully I’ve made some people proud during my tenure.”