Jonathan Kuminga's Future With Lakers Becomes Murkier As Rob Pelinka Identifies New Priority, Per Reports

Despite already having a full roster, the Los Angeles Lakers are not done pursuing talent. Earlier reports stated they were in the market for a wing and that free agent Jonathan Kuminga was of deep interest to them.

However, their pursuit of the Congolese forward appears to have stalled, and they are now instead looking for someone else. Not only are they shifting focus to a different player, but they've also started thinking more about bolstering a different position.

Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office's decision to direct their attention elsewhere isn't simply because they suddenly lost interest in Kuminga. Instead, it's because the Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks couldn't reach an agreement.

Yes, Kuminga is a free agent after the Atlanta Hawks declined his team option. However, they could still include him in a sign-and-trade deal, ensuring they don't just let him walk away without getting anything in return.

Normally, this might work in the Lakers' favor since they already have a full roster. If they reach an agreement with the Hawks, they can get Kuminga without cutting anyone from their team.

However, Pelinka is reportedly hesitant to include draft capital in a sign-and-trade, per The Athletic's Dan Woike.

Another report earlier, this time coming from The Stein Line, also stated that the Lakers are targeting a different wing. Matisse Thybulle, currently an unrestricted free agent, has drawn interest from the Lakers.

Acquiring Thybulle, a defensive ace, might make more sense for LA at this stage, since they lost their best perimeter defender this summer after Marcus Smart chose to sign with the Houston Rockets.

As for where the Lakers' focus lies now that their pursuit of Kuminga has hit a speed bump, they are reportedly looking to add more depth to their big man positions.

Who Are the Big Men On the Lakers' Roster?

The Lakers have been in the market for a big man for a long time now, but their current quest for one is mostly to add depth

They already have someone who can start for them at the center position in defensive-minded rebounding specialist Walker Kessler, and they also have some depth around him.

Two-time Golden State Warriors champion Kevon Looney and forward-center Sandro Mamukelashvili both signed with LA this summer.

They also have 6-foot-8 Jarred Vanderbilt and 6-foot-7 Jake LaRavia. However, LA is reportedly actively shopping Vanderbilt and is expected to trade him before next season starts.

Meanwhile, LaRavia is more of an in-betweener than a true power forward. In fact, in college, he was listed as a guard despite his height being 6-foot-9, which differs from what the NBA lists.

Kessler and Looney can certainly fill the center position, and Mamukelashvili can be their starting power forward.

He certainly fits the archetype of a stretch four more than a true five when considering he is only 6-foot-9, and the fact that he shot 38.9 percent on his 3-pointers while averaging 3.7 attempts last season.

A problem for the Lakers is that this year's free agency class isn't the strongest, and it's been further weakened this deep into the summer. Most of the top free agents are already gone, and LA is running out of options.