The Los Angeles Lakers are recalibrating their roster plans after their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, who is set to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, failed to materialize. This development leaves a significant gap in their projected starting lineup for the 2026-27 NBA season, prompting an evaluation of existing players for the crucial fifth starter position.
Initially, Kuminga was envisioned as a starter alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Quentin Grimes. His departure creates an immediate need to fill that role with the team's training camp approaching.
Potential Starting Candidates
Several players on the current roster are being considered for the final starting spot. Among them is Sandro Mamukelashvili, who was signed to a four-year deal with player options through the 2029-30 season, signaling the team's valuation of his abilities. Mamukelashvili has developed into a consistent scorer, passer, and rebounder since entering the league as the 54th pick in the 2021 draft. In the 2025-26 season with the Toronto Raptors, he achieved career-best statistics across multiple categories, including 11.2 points per game, a 52.3% field goal percentage, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. His skill set as a 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man who can dribble, pass, and shoot at a high level addresses coach JJ Redick's stated needs for improved playmaking and shooting from the team. At 27 years old, Mamukelashvili is entering what is typically the prime of an NBA player's career.
Jake LaRavia is another player who finished the 2025-26 season with significant regular season minutes and remains on the roster. Despite a career-low 32.1% shooting from three-point range in the previous season, LaRavia consistently received playing time, averaging a career-high 25.1 minutes over 82 games. His value lies in his ability to connect plays with his passing, cutting, and defensive versatility, even without requiring a high volume of offensive touches. At 24 years old and entering his fifth NBA season, LaRavia is expected to have further development potential.
Ziaire Williams brings a strong physical profile at 6-foot-9, with good lateral quickness for his size. Having added weight to approximately 215 pounds from his previous listed weight of 185 pounds, Williams is expected to be better equipped to guard larger forwards. His primary strength is perimeter defense and versatility, with his three-point shooting representing a key area for growth, having shot a career-high 34.3% last season.
Matisse Thybulle is considered the most potent perimeter defender among the available options. His average of 2 steals per game last season tied for the second-most in the league among players with at least 20 appearances, despite averaging only 16 minutes per game. He also led the league in steals and deflections per 36 minutes in 2025-26 among players appearing in at least 20 games. Thybulle's physical attributes, including a 7-foot wingspan on a 6-foot-5 frame, and his disruptive defensive capabilities have been consistent throughout his career. He has also shown improvement in his three-point shooting, converting 37.4% from beyond the arc after joining the Trail Blazers in February 2023.
Decision Point
Among the discussed candidates, LaRavia is viewed as the most suitable option for the final starting spot. While Mamukelashvili offers more offensive versatility and Thybulle excels in perimeter defense, LaRavia provides a balance of defensive capability against bigger forwards and the connective offensive skills the Lakers need from that position. His familiarity with Doncic and Reaves is also considered an advantage. Following LaRavia, Williams is considered the next-best option for the starting lineup as the team heads into training camp.