Lakers ready to pivot if they dont acquire Jonathan Kuminga

Even as most of the NBA has been in a holding pattern awaiting LeBron James’ free agency decision, the Lakers have marched on with their roster reconstruction.The same week after James revealed he wasn’t returning to the Lakers for an unprecedented 24th NBA season, the team agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Jazz for Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million), made free agency deals for Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million) and executed a trade that brought Jaden Hardy to LA and sent Deandre Ayton to the WizardsAnd over the last two weeks, the Lakers have made multiple veteran’s minimum signings: Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million), Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million).And the Lakers aren’t done yet. By league rules, they’ll need to trim their roster from 16 players agreed/signed to standard NBA deals to 15 before the regular season starts in late October. But they’re still looking to make additions to fortify their roster around franchise cornerstones Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Kessler. Potentially another backup big man.And possibly a bigger, starting-caliber wing.At the center of the Lakers’ roster improvement pursuits is unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story The Lakers and Kuminga have mutual interest; Lakers president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with Kuminga after free agency started in late June.  As The California Post detailed two weeks ago, a deal hasn’t been agreed to because the Lakers and Kuminga’s camp haven’t come to terms on a mutually satisfactory salary.That’s be...