Kyle Kuzma
Perhaps you don’t think Kyle Kuzma’s a role player. Maybe you believe he’s a budding star. You could be right, but until he’s capable of creating high quality looks for himself out of isolation sets, he must be considered a high-end role player.
Every team that wins a championship gets help during the regular season and throughout the playoffs from a surprise role player. Last year the Toronto Raptors got exceptional play from breakout star Pascal Siakam. He went from an afterthought to winning the 2018-2019 Most Improved Player award.
During the turn of the century, the Purple and Gold also got help from various role players as they marched towards three championships in a row. One year Derek Fisher upped his game for the Phil Jackson led Lakers, and during another title run Robert Horry shocked everyone with his stellar play.
Next season, Kyle Kuzma’s performance could determine whether the Lakers win a championship or if they fizzle out in the second round of the playoffs.
During the 2019-2020 season, every team that faces the Lakers is going to have to pick their poison when trying to stop the Purple and Gold’s offensive attack, because LA has too much talent to be fully reigned in.
Each opposing squad’s coaching staff will be forced to spend the majority of their time game planning on how to stop LeBron James and Anthony Davis from wreaking havoc on offense. Then with what little energy they have left, rival coaches are going to make sure that their players know to stay attached to known quantities; Danny Green and Avery Bradley.
Teams that face the Lakers are going to have to let Kyle Kuzma be the “poison” that beats them, which means Kuzma’s going to have space to operate on offense next season.
Kyle Kuzma’s 3-point stroke has looked much improved this offseason, which is outstanding, because if he can hit 40% of his shots from deep next year, combined with his quirky yet useful running hooks and his explosive attacks to the rim, then the Lakers will be unstoppable on offense.
If Kuzma breaks out next year in the same way that Pascal Siakam exploded for the Raptors during the 2019-2020 season, then the Lakers will be in line to win their first championship since the days that Kobe and Pau graced the court together.