Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma is now the franchise X-Factor
By Ronald Agers
The Los Angeles Lakers probably will trade Kyle Kuzma. But not for the reason youâd think!
Feel free to raise your hand if your stomach turns when you think of Timofey Mozgovâs and Luol Dengâs huge contracts. They were albatross contracts that Magic Johnson made a mission in life to get rid of. Danny Greenâs $15+ million dollar contract will reach that stomach-churning level next year with 40% of the NBA revenue gone without fans in the arenas.
High priced contracts will be a huge discussion on draft night for quite a few teams if they can be offloaded in deals to save money. Danny Greenâs contract will have to go. If fans have an issue with Kuzmaâs production, there should be a mutiny based on the return of Danny Greenâs investment.
Since opening night, when Green went nuts from the 3 point line and the game-saving 3 pointer that saved the road game against Dallas early this season, Green has been inconsistent.
While there is a perceived upside for Kuz, it costs only $1.9 million this year and $3.5 million next season to find out. Danny Green costs a lot more, plus his game has plateaued. How do the Los Angeles Lakers convince a team to take Greenâs contract? Yep. Add Kyle Kuzma. Thatâs the only way Rob Pelinka can make an offer without an NBA GM laughing in his face before hanging up.
Is this fair to Kyle Kuzma? No. But it wasnât to Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart or Lonzo Ball. When LeBron James arrived, everything changed. Lake Show Life warned the young core their days were numbered.
LeBron brings along expectations, massive media spotlight and a roster blueprint with him that naturally creates more pressure for his new teammates and roster overhauls for NBA front offices.
Anthony Davis is the once in a lifetime player to carry the franchise for the rest of the decade. The Los Angeles Lakers are in business to get stars. In 20-21, they will be looking for another one to help AD when LeBron really decides to hang it up.
Kuzma is good enough to get his money. Whether the Los Angeles Lakers decide to extend him or not, it probably wonât be this offseason. The teamâs plan is to keep their salary cap space for the summer of 2021 to get a star free agent. This was before the pandemic came and the financial problems started.
Now, anything is possible.