Is Jonathan Kuminga worth it for the Lakers?

This Lakers squad is already establishing a culture. They want to be here. I don't want to being in some guy which two other teams gave up on him, and who thinks he's a #1. Blame it on his agent but what does that say about Kuminga? He's not that guy. I not need pouting

I'm a Kuminga truther and my biggest hangup isn't money, it's whether being a Laker starter is what he truly wants to be long term or not..cuz the Lakers are tryna build a core If he wants, he could be a beloved LA staple by embracing being part of a core, and not a mercenary

You say you want JK to play the Aaron Gordon & Wiggins role? Gordon gets paid 34mil per, Wiggins gets paid 30mil per. Say something else stupid

He has yet to prove he can play that role consistently. And those guys were more established, productive & successful earlier in their careers than him (though to be fair, they were in situations where they had locked-in opportunity). The whole point is he still has to prove it.

He has proven it. Just in a bad situation of a team drafting him and not handing over what he had proven. You brought up Wiggins. How about you compare JK's 3rd year to Wiggins that year. Look into the controversy of the Nuggets game January 4th 2024. Your perspective is new to this. Check his stats in his 2nd year the games that Andrew Wiggins stepped away from the team. Look at what he did vs the Wolves in the 2nd round in 2025. Evaluate this years first 8 games before Curry missed 3 straight games & Butler and Green missed the 1st of those 3 games. Understand the Sabotage Kerr used those 3 games entering the 4th on the road to OKC against Kuminga. He started the season 17-7-4 on 64% TS. 3rd leading scorer, leading rebounder highest TS%. It was not enough for Kerr. You do not know what has been going on. If he comes to the Lakers and you want this to start off well. Then do some deep dive research. You can also do the same for the Hawks. His first 3 games before he aggravated his bone bruise and had to be on a minutes restriction. An injury that should have never happened on the Warriors as he was thrown back out there because Butler was injured. Over his first 2 games back he scored 30 points over 30minutes before stepping on someone's foot. That is rust from the body not being intuned with the game. Truly understand his impact games 2 & 3 in the Hawks two wins. Notice the Nickeil Alexander Walker unhappiness with the praise and play of Kuminga. Then notice the changes in his rotation and minutes after the game 3 win. This is a long message but it can be so much longer because he has proven it. There is more to this than just basketball. If Naji Marshall is getting 3 years 52million with stats on a tanking team while shooting 29% from three in 30mpg. Then Lakers can find a way to pay JK fairly. Which would be 3 years 54 million. It only takes sending out Vando and one other contract like Hardy or Knecht. Bronny too. Stop treating him like some unproven rookie, just then maybe the basketball karma can surprise the Lakers with a hidden allstar potential. Which at 18mil per over 3 years will be a bargain for L.A.

Didn’t they give grimes $16 mil? He wasn’t good last year. JK actually played better on both ends but JK is the risk?

No ! If he is pushing for 2-3 million more this goes to show he is all about the $ Totally understand it’s a business but your reputation is not the best. Get PJ Washington!

For me honestly Jovan, this a massive gamble but I'm willing to do whatever is possible to get that guy on my team If it backfires then yeah this is catastrophic, but if everything hits, then oh boy we will be a scary team

YESSSS KUMINGA IS WORTH THE WAIT! DO NOT FALL FOR THE BAIT TRADE WITH DALLAS! KEEP CARR, and the young for together! You'll reap the benefits of this!

Pay the man and he can buy in. Stop playing games Rob

Yes he is so misunderstood as a player and he can guard 1-4 very good and he fits so well offensively obviously you have to give a role that he is happy with there is reason why the Lakers are pushing hard for him and JJ himself wants him

What trouble? 29 year old Naji Marshall who played 29mpg scored 15ppg on a tanking team & shots 29% from three got 3 years 52mil. You think JK is trouble because he asking to be paid fairly and not ruin his earning potential for years to come? Go fuck yourself.

It's business. Players have leverage. Player will use their leverage. The same way these owners use theirs every chance they get whether that's with politics their players their vendors whomever. Stop shitting on players. It's the owners who are wealthy, paying the salaries.

Slow news week huh, we talking about kuminga like he’s all nba. All lakers podcasters produce the same old content for weeks! Just give it a break, find something new.

Remember what KOBE said:

Everybody labeled Kuminga “starting caliber” after reports of JJ/Rob promising him a starting spot. He played less than 24 mins in 13/16 games post deadline and was getting DNPs in GS. We have no idea whether he’s “starting caliber”. Raw talent is obviously not the only criteria.

If the cost is dudes JJ wasn’t gonna play and picks we don’t wanna rely on then yeah. We got a lot of young talent to groom

He sure is!!!

NO!

Kuminga talk right now

Nope..,

Lakers thirsty

No, he's not. Your Kuminga fetish is unhealthy.

Hell nah the divabitch once again

N. O. P. E. This dude will kill the team vibe, Jovan. Not a team guy.

Too many questions. If you have to ask if he would make the extra pass and know that he had trouble with that on a team with Steph Curry. You have to say no.

LeBron James's replacement at Power Forward needs to be a big dude for battling deep in the paint for rebounds. Kuminga too little.

Lakers waited too late in the free agency process to be concerned about LeBron James's position at Power Forward. That's so unfortunate.

Our options are so limited that in that sense he’s worth it, but there are serious concerns with him wanting to prove himself for a bigger payday down the line don’t know if he’ll buy into a role

Not after watching him hoop in sweat pants like we in the 80s 🤣

Not worth this Fkn dramatic stall

@Lakers_or_none Yea we definitely don’t need anymore distractions when the season start if he’s gonna be complaining about his role on the team

Not at all

The exact same thing can be said for Walker Kessler. The longer this take the more I understand Kuminga position.

I’ll take kumiga or klay Thompson

You are like a woman, constantly worried about another grown man’s business. He performed 2 years in a row in the playoffs, out performing Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green last Pods last year against Minnesota. He out performing Jalen Johnson, NAW, Dyson Daniels in the playoffs

Kuminga is worth it for the Lakers the same way a lottery ticket is worth it. Huge ceiling, no guarantee, and LA is completely out of cap room to gamble twice. Either he unlocks something real next to Luka or this front office wasted a year.