Los Angeles Lakers: Rob Pelinka and LeBron James still have faith in Kyle Kuzma

Despite Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma being included in recent trade rumors, a couple key folks within the organization still believe in him.

Since 2020 began, trade rumors within the Los Angeles Lakers organization have started to heat up. A fair portion of these rumors of late have generally involved third-year player Kyle Kuzma.

Given his mediocre performance so far this season, it is likely one of the reasons as to why Kuzma’s name has emerged quite often. He just has not found his way on a team that features superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Part of it could certainly be a mental roadblock of sorts. On the grounds that he has been coming off the pine the whole season, Kuzma may not feel as valued as he once was.

Contrarily, in his first couple years with the Lakers, Kuzma had a much higher usage rate. As a rookie, for example, he averaged 31.2 minutes a night, whereas last season he played a little over 33 minutes per contest. That number is down to 23.4 minutes this time around.

Moreover, it is worth mentioning that he started a lot of those games in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Things of that nature can truly do a lot to one’s psyche and overall confidence.

On that note, it has clearly been a challenge for Kuzma to locate consistency when his minutes are inconsistent. Once he gets in a rhythm, he is a fine scorer, but the opportunities have been lesser than they were in the past.

Nevertheless, the Lakers have played nearly half their games and Kuzma looks lost on the court at times. Yes, it is fair to point out that the execution has not always been there. However, one of the bigger areas of weakness this year for Kuzma is that he has not been as aggressive as he was in his earlier years.

In the past, fans got used to seeing a very versatile, unafraid scorer. That is what caused the Lakers’ faithful to go crazy whenever Kuzma entered the game. Despite that, he has looked more timid in terms of his playing style and thus not like his old self.

Alas, not everything that has happened to Kuzma this season has been under his control. Amid a couple other setbacks, he suffered an injury over the summer while competing for a spot with Team USA.

That being said, it is anyone’s guess as to why he has played a little more cautiously up to this juncture. It is only a theory, but there is a chance “Kuz” is doing his part to better ensure he remains healthy.

Granted Kuzma’s trade value may not be at an all-time high, teams like the Kings are reportedly coveting the young Laker. It is sensible given that he is still rather young at 24 and has demonstrated glimpses of his scoring abilities.

Erik García Gundersen of LeBron Wire talked about the speculation revolving around No. 0, and wondered who the Lakers could get in return for the Flint, Michigan native.

Per Gundersen, the Lakers may want to be careful with respect to how they handle Kuzma. Unless the Lakers wind up with a superior player, he thinks letting the 24-year-old go may not be the wisest move.

One of the most crucial factors to keep in mind is Kuz’s contract. He is making about $1.9 million; thus, it could be challenging for Los Angeles to find a suitable partner, and, better yet, someone that could make them better.

At the same time, it is not to say the Lakers’ front office will be inactive over the next few weeks. This team is desperate for another banner and will do their part to make this team stronger than they already are.

In terms of Kuzma, only time will tell what occurs. Perhaps the encouraging thing for Kuzma is that James and general manager Rob Pelinka reportedly still believe in him.

Sam Amick of The Athletic (via transcription from Gundersen) shared this rumor and revealed that LBJ is still “supportive” of the young Laker.

"“As for James, whose influence and voice should never be overlooked in situations like this, a source with knowledge of his thinking said he remains supportive of Kuzma.”"

Hearing this is huge for a couple different reasons. James’ name alone carries a ton of weight and his opinions therefore tend to be valued more highly than the average person.

Sure, LeBron is not the actual general manager. Be that as it may, his elevated status gives him more credibility than most and he has been known to play the role of a backseat GM of sorts in the past.

Moreover, it is important to remember the state the Lakers were in around this stage last season. James was openly pushing for L.A. to upgrade its roster, which depleted the team’s chemistry. It is reasonable to contend James may not want another repeat of that provided how well the team is doing.

Additionally, James obviously played alongside No. 0 last season. For that reason, he understands what Kuzma brings to the table when he is on.

Certainly, Kuzma is fun to watch when his shot is falling. However, when it is not, the guy does not provide much in the way of defense or playmaking. The latter is where the Lakers have struggled when James is taking a rest and explains why these rumors have arisen.

While Kuz’s deficiencies are known, this could be a calling card for fans to be patient. At any rate, terms like “supportive” reveal a major discrepancy between this year’s group versus the 2018-19 squad. This Lakers team is closely knit, and it has been hard to not notice. Trading the 6-foot-9 forward would disrupt that chemistry to some extent.

The fact that Pelinka still has faith in the youngster says a lot as well. Amick noted that because Rob drafted the Utah product, a relationship has been established.

Pelinka’s feelings toward Kuzma are understandable and moments like that are hard to let go of. Certainly, Kyle will never forget that day, either, provided that L.A. saw his potential.

Even though it is easy to look at Kuzma with the heart, some would argue the eye test says otherwise. He has indeed shown flashes of what he can do but has lacked consistency and an all-around game.

Albeit it is nice Kuzma has some support within the organization, he is definitely a valuable trade chip. Other teams have shown interest, and, at the minimum, Pelinka should continue to hear other teams out due to Los Angeles’ hopes for winning a title.