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Los Angeles Lakers: Rookies believe Kyle Kuzma was a steal in NBA Draft

By Nick Ziegler

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Recently, NBA rookies were polled about who they thought was the biggest steal in the NBA Draft. Did Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers get any votes?

One of the biggest surprises of the offseason came when the Los Angeles Lakers traded D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. The deal was made in order for the Lakers to dump the contract of Timofey Mozgov off on the Nets, however, they ended up getting a good return.

In exchange for Russell and Mozgov, the Lakers received center Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick. With three picks in the first round after the trade, the Lakers used the 27th overall pick from Brooklyn to select Kyle Kuzma out of Utah.

Recently, NBA.com polled rookies on who they thought was the biggest steal of the NBA Draft. Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz ended up receiving 18.9 percent of the vote, as his fellow rookies believe he was the biggest steal with the 13th pick. Coming in fifth with 9.5 percent of the vote was Kuzma.

Seeing Kuzma receive votes for being a steal is certainly not surprising. In the Las Vegas Summer League, Kuzma was one of the best players in the tournament along with his teammate Lonzo Ball.

Together, the two were able to help the Lakers win the Summer League Title. With Ball out for the Championship Game, it was Kuzma that led the way for the Lakers. He ended up taking home the Summer League Finals MVP, as Ball won the Tournament MVP earlier in the night.

Considering that Kuzma was taken toward the end of the first round, it could really make him a steal for the Lakers. Many weren’t sure if he would be a first round pick prior to the NBA Draft. However, his play in the Summer League now has people believing that the Lakers got a steal when they took him.

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Despite a great Summer League, Kuzma is going to have to battle in camp for minutes in the regular season. With a lot of depth at the forward position, Kuzma will have to continue to impress the Lakers’ brass and force them to play him.

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