Lakers went hard after Jonathan Kuminga, and it still wasn’t enough

Jonathan Kuminga is headed to the Timberwolves, but it’s not because the Lakers sat on their hands. Just the opposite, it seems.

Per Khobi Price of the California Post, LA went hard after Kuminga, with head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick recruiting him shortly after the start of free agency.

And they eventually offered Kuminga more money than Minnesota did. Price reported that the Lakers got to $12 million-plus annually over three years in a potential sign-and-trade. The Hawks were willing to facilitate one.

But Kuminga went with flexibility. By comparison, the Timberwolves reportedly signed him to a two-year deal worth $13 million — and a player option after Year One.

In other words, a big season could mean an even bigger payday for Kuminga. Presumably, anyway. He’ll certainly get plenty of chances at that alongside the likes of Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

What does it mean for the Lakers? Well, Price concluded that the fifth starter is likely already on the roster. A lot of that has to do with the fact that there isn’t much left to choose from in free agency. At least, not in the wing department.

Granted, no one says you need your playoff roster set in September. Or even January. So we have a long, long way to go before we can declare the Lakers a finished product.

But from the sound of things, we have a pretty good idea of where they’ll stand entering training camp.