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Lakers: The effort to understand the toxicity surrounding Kyle Kuzma

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 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 Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 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 Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Kuzma
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Kyle Kuzma’s leaked rumors were strongest in a trade deal to Sacramento!

Kyle Kuzma was linked to Bogdan Bogdanovic in many rumors last year. Lake Show Life even covered the bases on a possible deal.

Last year around the trade deadline, the Sacramento Kings offered Nemanja Bjelica and a pick for Kyle Kuzma. Pelinka refused and asked about Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Kings said no. Okay that sounds reasonable enough, Bjelica won’t help, and at the time, Bogdanovic was considered untouchable.

 ESPN’s Zach Lowe breaks down the asking price last year.

"“The Kings should get something good for Bogdanovic — at least a first-round pick. They can wait and see if offers fatten closer to the deadline. At that point, it’s time to decide if the return outweighs the benefits of re-signing Bogdanovic.”"

Fast forward to last month.

When Kings’ GM Vlade Divac resigned from his position this offseason, Bogdan became expendable real quick. The Kings tried to deal him to Milwaukee in a botched deal. Most NBA experts thought the Kings would try to do a sign and trade deal with NBA teams. Here’s a possible Lakers trade scenario.

  • The Los Angeles Lakers had just signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three year, $40 million dollar deal.
  • Combine that salary with Kyle Kuzma and JaVale McGee’s, who Pelinka was trying to move, maybe something could be done.

Only these things happened.

  • The Sacramento Kings did not match the offer sheet of the Atlanta Hawks letting him walk for nothing.
  • JaVale McGee was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Bell (Waived) and Alfonso McKinnie. 

After those events happened, Kyle Kuzma was safe.

Okay, enough about Kyle Kuzma’s worth in NBA GMs offices around the league. Read on to see Lake Show Life’s analysis of Kyle Kuzma’s early years.

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