The Lakers’ flurry of activity early in free agency covered a variety of holes on the roster, but left one gaping one.
Sandro Mamukelashvili was signed to replace Rui Hachimura, but he’s not a locked on starter. Most would assume that he’s a backup big man, able to spell either the starting power forward or center.
Obviously, the team is chasing Jonathan Kuminga, but that fills a hole more on the perimeter than at the four. Other names have come up in the search across the league as potential options at the four, including a former teammate of Luka Dončić.
During their relatively brief time together, PJ Washington shined bright alongside Luka. It helped him revive his career after toiling away in Charlotte. It also helped him get a hefty contract as he signed a 4-year, nearly $90-million deal.
When Luka was on the Mavericks, that contract felt fine. When Luka was dealt, that contract looked a lot more like an albatross. It would be easy, then, to assume that, perhaps, the Lakers would be interested in him.
However, for now, it doesn’t look like the Lakers are interested in Washington because of his deal, as reported by Khobi Price of the California Post.
The Lakers have long been tied to trade rumors with Mavericks forward PJ Washington, a former teammate of Doncic’s in Dallas, but the fully guaranteed $88.8 million Washigton’s owed over the next four years isn’t appealing to the Lakers.
There’s always the chance this is posturing, which surely would come into play at least somewhat here. The Lakers handed out four-year contracts like candy this summer. It’s hard to imagine them drawing a line on Washington, who has a proven track record of producing alongside Luka and fills a hole in the roster.
For now, it seems like the full-court push is on for Kuminga and it’s basically impossible to acquire both he and Washington. But, should Kuminga go elsewhere, it would be interesting to see if the focus shifts to Dallas.
Washington could start at the four, but also could play as a spacing five as well. It would give the Lakers lots of versatility alongside Mamu in the front court. He likely again wouldn’t be much of a defensive signing, which does fit the profile of player the Lakers signed this offseason.
The Lakers aren’t in much of a position where they can be picky, but there is a hierarchy of who they prefer right now, it seems. There aren’t going to be many other suitors for Washington, if any, so the Lakers likely don’t feel much urgency on that option.
It feels like at least one more notable player will be added to the Lakers this free agency. It’s just a matter of who they choose and who chooses them.
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