1. Kyle Kuzma
Kuzmania has gotten off to a rough start this season. Some of his struggles have been out of his control. After missing all of training camp with a stress reaction in his ankle that he suffered during Team USA, Kyle Kuzma came back noticeably rusty. After showing signs of improvement a couple of weeks into his return, the third-year player suffered yet another setback after twisting his ankle.
With all of the comparisons to the Los Angeles Clippers’ depth, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are hoping that Kuzma can become a reliable third option. Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka were reluctant to give Kyle Kuzma up in the deal that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles because they believed that he had that “it” factor. His work ethic was undeniable and he has not shied away from working with other greats (most notably Kobe Bryant).
One reason for optimism for Kuzma fans is that he came back from his most recent injury looking like the guy the team drafted two years ago. If Kuzma can show that he can be a consistent shooter, Frank Vogel may think long and hard about placing him in the starting lineup alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.