Who should be Lakers fifth starter after failed Jonathan Kuminga pursuit?
The Lakers coming up short in their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, who’s joining the Timberwolves, will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of their roster. One of the biggest questions moving forward: Who will be the Lakers’ fifth starter once the 2026-27 season starts? If Kuminga was on the roster, he would’ve been in the first unit alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and presumed starter Quentin Grimes. But with Kuminga headed to Minnesota, there’s a glaring hole in the depth chart with a month before training camp starts. Who should be considered for the final starting spot, and who should ultimately have the edge?Along with Reaves, Grimes and Kessler, Mamukelashvili was one of four players who the Lakers signed to four-year deals with player options for the 2029-30 season, which highlights how much the Lakers value him. And it’s easy to see why. Mamukelashvili has emerged as a reliable three-level scorer, good passer and strong rebounder after playing for the Bucks, Spurs and Raptors since being the No.54 pick in the 2021 draft. Coming off of a career-year with the Raptors in which his scoring average (11.2 points), field goal percentage (52.3%), assists average (1.9), steals average (.8) and blocks average (.5) with Toronto in 2025-26 were all career-best marks, Mamukelashvili has a blend of offensive skills that’s unique for his size (6-foot-9, 240 pounds).Coach JJ Redick said after the 2025-26 season ended that the Lakers needed to be better with dribbling, passing and shooting.
Mamukelashvili helps in all of those areas as a big man who can pass, run the floor, dribble and shoot at a high level. At 27 years old and entering his sixth season in the NBA, Mamukelashvili should be entering the prime of his career. LaRavia, along with Doncic, Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt, is one of just four players who finished in the top-11 in total regular season minutes played from the 2025-26 team that’s on the roster entering this ...