Jonathan Kuminga

Sources told ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel the Lakers could have pulled off a two-for-one move to acquire Buddy Hield before he landed with the Bulls. Los Angeles reportedly balked at including a second-round pick to make the contracts work.

Jovan Buha said on his Buha's Block show that Los Angeles remains interested in trading for a starting-caliber power forward, whether now or closer to the deadline.

Jonathan Kuminga texted Lonzo Ball podcast co-host Darren Moore to dispute reports he turned down more money from Los Angeles. Kuminga said no such offer was ever on the table before he signed with Minnesota. The denial contradicts earlier rumors that the Lakers offered him more than the Timberwolves did.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reports the Lakers are shopping Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht as they sit at 16 contracts, one over the limit.

Minnesota explored bringing Sasha Vezenkov back from Europe to the NBA, Marc Stein reports. No formal offer was ever made, and Vezenkov reportedly signaled he wasn't interested in returning. The Timberwolves then pivoted and signed Jonathan Kuminga instead.

Jalen Duren remains unsigned as a restricted free agent, with Detroit and his camp still apart on a long-term deal. Detroit's offer is now put at around $190 million over five years, or roughly $35 million a year, while Duren wants at least $200 million, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson.

A hypothetical three-team trade would send Patrick Williams and Isaac Okoro from Chicago to the Lakers, while Jerami Grant would go from Memphis to the Bulls. Los Angeles would ship out Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht to Memphis.

Anthony Edwards missed the 65-game minimum needed for All-NBA eligibility last season, so he can't reach super-max status until he makes an All-NBA team in 2027, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Sean Deveney reports the Lakers tried to use Jaden Hardy as a piece in a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade with Atlanta, and now that deal has fallen through, they simply want to move on from him.

Jonathan Kuminga told The Athletic he passed on the Lakers because of the outside noise surrounding the team, wanting an environment that kept him focused on basketball and his growth. He said Minnesota offered a better defensive fit and a clearer role, calling it the better overall situation for him.