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Los Angeles Lakers: Trade targets that can be landed with 28th pick

By Jason Reed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Nemanja Bjelica #88 of Sacramento Kings is fouled on the shot attempt by Derrick White #4 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA basketball game at the Visa Athletic Center in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 31, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Nemanja Bjelica #88 of Sacramento Kings is fouled on the shot attempt by Derrick White #4 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA basketball game at the Visa Athletic Center in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 31, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Nemanja Bjelica

Nemanja Bjelica is a power forward for the Sacramento Kings and would be someone worth targeting if the Los Angeles Lakers have any intent on trading Kyle Kuzma during this offseason. Bjelica would be a perfect replacement for Kuzma in the rotation and would be an improvement as well.

This could allow the Lakers to knock out two birds with one stone. Perhaps the team trades Kyle Kuzma and Danny Green in a package for Victor Oladipo and then flips the 28th overall pick for Bjelica.

Bjelica shot 41.9% from beyond the arc last season and is a career 39.3% three-point shooter while averaging 3.1 points per game. He is someone who could come play the exact same minutes as Kuzma and provide a much better off-ball scoring option.

So why would the Sacramento Kings want to trade someone that shoots that well from beyond the arc? Simple. Bjelica is going to be a free agent after this season and now would be the time to get the most out of him.

He might get an overpriced contract in free agency next summer because of how well he shoots the three-ball, making it more valuable for the Kings to take a future asset for one year of a stretch four that does not really move the needle for the Kings.

Meanwhile, the Lakers get to replace one guaranteed year of Kuzma (he is a restricted free agent after 2020-21) for one guaranteed year of a better option in Bjelica while also opening the door to use Kuzma in another trade to make other improvements.

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It is a win-win.

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