Lake Show Life
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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players that will benefit from LeBron playing less

By Jason Reed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers slaps hands with Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half in Game Three of the first round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 22, 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 - AUGUST 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers slaps hands with Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half in Game Three of the first round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 22, 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Lakers who could benefit: 2. Kyle Kuzma

This season is essentially an audition tape for Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma is a restricted free agent after this season, meaning that any team can offer Kuzma a new contract but the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately control the situation as they can match any offer sheet that Kuzma signs.

There has already been talk of the Lakers and Kyle Kuzma agreeing to an extension that keeps him in LA past this season. However, I firmly believe that Rob Pelinka and the Lakers want Kuzma to prove that he is worth this big extension, or else he probably would have already gotten it from the team.

We recently covered how a Kuzma trade becomes more likely if Talen Horton-Tucker can prove that he is already a tangible rotation player and can essentially replace Kuzma’s minutes in the rotation.

Kuzma is going to get his shot to defend that spot in the rotation and his biggest test is going to be in the games that LeBron James does not play. Kuzma has to prove that he can be a consistent scoring option (he can score, just not consistently) as well as a better defender.

His fit on the roster with LeBron and AD is a bit quirky as he is redundant with the two superstars. One of those superstars playing fewer minutes and even resting some games is naturally going to give Kuzma more opportunities that he otherwise would not have.

He has to make the most of it.