Los Angeles Lakers: Why a Kyle Kuzma trade won’t happen this offseason
By Jason Reed
2. There is no real target out there that helps the team and works logistically
The Los Angeles Lakers lost the contracts that they would use to trade with Kuzma in order to make salaries match. Danny Green was the frontrunner if the team was able to pull off a big deal and JaVale McGee became the next-best option if the Lakers would go get someone such as Derrick Rose.
The Lakers no longer have that luxury on the payroll. They could use Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie‘s contracts but that would still put the team in a salary cap bind.
Even if the team can work out the finances, there are not really any targets that help the Los Angeles Lakers. The one thing that you can justify trading for at this point is a better wing than Kuzma or a traditional backup center.
That traditional backup center is not worth trading for. They can land someone such as DeMarcus Cousins on a minimum deal and if they don’t all they have to do is wait for the buyout market, where every year a big-man is bought out.
And the Lakers are not going to get a huge wing improvement at this point in the offseason. During the season when teams become sellers then yes, the Lakers could probably make a move for half a season of a better wing player. Right now? There are no targets worth trading for.
Next. Backup centers to sign after adding Marc Gasol. dark
The biggest need was for a second ballhandler and it made sense to flip Kuzma for someone like Rose. However, that need was wiped away with the addition of Dennis Schroder.