Aug. 8, 2026, 5:02 a.m. PT

The Los Angeles Lakers have very limited options as far as trading for someone who is capable of being a two-way starter for them at the forward position. They have been reportedly trying to trade for Jonathan Kuminga for the last several weeks, but according to Anthony Slater of ESPN, the movement toward a possible sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks has slowed down over the last few weeks.

P.J. Washington of the Dallas Mavericks has also been linked to the Lakers, but according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, there is no indication the team is trying to get him.

Los Angeles may have to get creative if it is to find an outside solution at that final starting spot. Maxwell Ogden of Lake Show Life suggested the team consider going after Taylor Hendricks of the Memphis Grizzlies.

“There are clear arguments in favor of Kuminga and Washington being better players and perhaps even better fits than Hendricks,” Ogden wrote. “Kuminga is a far more productive scorer at 20.2 points per 36 minutes compared to Hendricks’ 13.1.

“Washington, meanwhile, has started on a team that went to the NBA Finals, whereas Hendricks has yet to make his postseason debut.

“For as compelling as those facts may be, Hendricks is still worth looking into. While Kuminga and Washington are perhaps more talented, Hendricks is a fascinating defensive prospect and is likely to be a more cost-efficient player to target.

“Based on the fact that the Lakers have already handed out four-year contracts to four different players this summer, embracing a short-term risk would be a wise endeavor.”

Hendricks, who is 6-foot-9 and 22 years of age, isn’t the scoring threat Kuminga is, as Ogden explained. But with a career mark of 35.4% from 3-point range in his three NBA seasons, he’s clearly a better outside shooter than Kuminga, while Washington’s career 3-point accuracy is also 35.4%.

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Since he weighs 215 pounds and has a wingspan of nearly 7-foot-1, he can guard bigger forwards as well as wings. That defensive versatility would work well for the Lakers, since it is a little unclear if Luka Doncic would be better off guarding 3s or 4s.

Hendricks has one year left on his contract at $7.8 million, so he could be a relatively inexpensive option for L.A.

Why could the Grizzlies be open to moving Hendricks? As Ogden pointed out, they have a glut of forwards.

“The reason the Grizzlies might be willing to move Hendricks is the simple fact that they’ve loaded up on players at his position. They drafted Cameron Boozer and Karim Lopez, acquired Quinten Post and Isaiah Stewart to play behind and possibly alongside center Zach Edey, and even traded for Jerami Grant.

“Compounded by the fact that the wings are loaded with talented players such as Cedric Coward, Ty Jerome, GG Jackson, and Jaylen Wells, minutes could be tough to come by.”

The concern with Hendricks could be durability, as he played in 40 games as a rookie, three games the following season and 59 contests last season. But he could check enough boxes for the Lakers to take a chance on him, if they decide to actually do so.

He was traded to the Grizzlies midway through last season by the Utah Jazz, which meant he spent a couple of seasons playing alongside new Lakers players Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton, and that wouldn’t exactly hurt either.