Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Team packaging a Kyle Kuzma deal for Robert Covington?
By Ronald Agers
Lake Show Life readers are highly intelligent. They were talking about this guy before the rumors surfaced.
Yes, the headline read right. Many Lake Show Life readers (They know who they are!) actually had Robert Covington as a potential addition to the roster for weeks. The debates in the comments were so strong, this writer had no choice but to actually watch a Minnesota game in full to see what the hype was all about.
Robert Covington is a microcosm of his team right now. Covington along with the Wolves are struggling.
The rumored player that should have Kyle Kuzma packing is averaging only 12 points, a shade under six rebounds and two steals as a starter. He is shooting only 43% shooting from the field and 34% shooting from the land of the extra point.
What the Timberwolves are trying to sell the Lakers is the Robert Covington from last year.
Sure, Robert Covington was good for chemistry for the Timberwolves. Did anyone forget who he was acquired for? Jimmy Butler. The same guy that used the “Scorched Earth” tactic to get traded in the first place. Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins would have taken anyone last year just to get away from Butler’s wrath.
Minnesota will want to sell that he is a former First-Team All-NBA defender during the 2017-18 season as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. They will claim that he’s a consistent scorer and an above-average defender.
With his 3-point shooting efficiency of 35.9% from distance during his career, he fits in perfectly with the age-old narrative that he can be the shooter that LeBron James needs.
Now let’s bring in reality into the equation. ESPN’s Bobby Marks continues to break down what the true intentions of Minnesota and these negotiations, but a subscription is required to view all of the content.
Pay particular attention to the salary Covington commands not just this season, but the next TWO seasons. Kuzma is making $1.9 million this year and $3.5 million next year. Sure, Kuzma isn’t tearing up the NBA right now, but he’s providing the same amount of production and the mere fraction of the price.
Now that we have talked about the centerpieces, let’s talk about the players needed to make the deal work. Relax, no Kentavious Caldwell-Pope references.