Rob Pelinka Targets 29-Year-Old Blazers Guard Amid Jonathan Kuminga Chase, Per Reports

Defense was a concern for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. To fix that issue, GM Rob Pelinka has been in the hunt for defensive stars, which has led him to 29-year-old former Portland Trail Blazers guard-forward Matisse Thybulle.

Thybulle's three-year contract with the Blazers has already expired, making him an unrestricted free agent. On offense, he can camp in the corners, spacing the floor for Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, while on defense he makes life miserable for opposing scorers, perfectly complementing Walker Kessler’s rim protection.

Forward Jonathan Kuminga, meanwhile, remains another name on Pelinka’s radar. After the Atlanta Hawks declined his team option, several teams have reportedly shown interest in him, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adding Jonathan Kuminga would heavily bolster their wing rotation after they've already secured their other positions.

Kuminga is more of an offensive specialist with great athletic ability. He can benefit from receiving crisp passes from LA's guards on well-timed cuts.

Having designated playmakers around him gives him a significant advantage, since his ability to score in one-on-one situations leaves a lot to be desired.

Thybulle’s defensive intensity addresses LA’s biggest weakness, while Kuminga’s offensive burst adds athleticism to the wing rotation. Together, they would balance the roster if Pelinka can find the space.

However, roster space is a problem for LA at the moment. After the series of additions they've already made this summer, their roster is already full, which makes acquiring two more impact guys quite a challenge.

What Moves Have the Lakers Made This Offseason?

After losing LeBron James to free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers did not waste any time in restocking their roster.

They brought back Austin Reaves on a four-year, $185 million contract, which is the biggest deal for an undrafted player in NBA history.

After securing their loaded backcourt, they didn't waste any time in retooling around them.

They added a defensive specialist by trading two unprotected first-round picks (2031 & 2033) and two pick swaps (2028 & 2030) for Walker Kessler.

Kessler will take over as the starting center in LA after they traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy.

They also added more depth to their backcourt, signing guards Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes to serve as backups to Luka Doncic and Reaves.

Via the draft, they added guard Cameron Carr with the 24th overall pick.

Then, they further bolstered their frontcourt rotation by adding center-forward Sandro Mamukelashvili and two-time champion Kevon Looney.

Afterwards, they also added forward Ziaire Williams to add to their wing depth.

Currently, the roster is full, but Pelinka is exploring moves, most notably a potential Jarred Vanderbilt trade, to create flexibility for further additions.