Lakers: There are only 2 Kyle Kuzma trade scenarios that make sense

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

We’ll explore two Los Angeles Lakers trade ideas involving forward Kyle Kuzma.

The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated the NBA behind a top-five offense and defense during the first half of the season.

Unfortunately for Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers’ early success hasn’t stopped the NBA trade monster from stomping around outside his house and keeping him up at night.

Several factors have added fuel to the Kyle Kuzma trade fire:

  1. His trainer, Clint Parks, decided that he wanted to jeopardize his career in the NBA by insulting LeBron James, the most powerful sports figure in the world. Even though Kuzma had nothing to do with his trainer’s stupid remarks-it’s not like Kyle can stop someone from typing something on his computer- the stench from Parks’s comments has clung to Kuzma like a wet shirt.
  2. Kyle Kuzma was supposed to be the Lakers’ third star this season, but he’s only averaging 12 points per game while shooting under 35% from deep. Those are ugly numbers for a guy whose sole purpose on the team is to provide auxiliary scoring outside of LBJ and AD.
  3. Every season Kyle Kuzma misses significant time due to random injuries.

Most Lakes fans understand that Rob Pelinka is a businessman who runs a multi-billion-dollar organization, so he’s not going to make a business deal (i.e., a player trade) because Kuzma’s trainer brain farted into Instagram. Nor will he deal “Kuz” because he’s had trouble adjusting to his new role as the sixth man for the Lakers.

However, there are real and compelling basketball reasons to trade Kyle Kuzma.

Up next, we’ll explore said “basketball reasons,” and then we’ll look at two trade ideas.