Los Angeles Lakers: 3 free-agent forwards who fit better than Kyle Kuzma

2. Jeff Green

Kyle Kuzma definitely has a higher ceiling than Jeff Green as Green is entering the latter stages of his career while Kuzma still has plenty of career left ahead of him. However, Kuzma is not going to reach that ceiling in LA and Green is exactly the kind of veteran that a contending team wants to bring in.

Green can provide just as much offense as Kuzma, can provide it at a much more efficient rate and is going to be far cheaper. Green is going to be a veteran minimum signing no matter where he goes, giving the Lakers a level playing field to compete with other teams and lure him in with a potential championship.

Of course, he could just stay with the Brooklyn Nets, who offer just as good of a chance to win the title as the Lakers. That does not guarantee he will stay, but it is something to watch.

Green is the classic veteran bench wing that can hit three-point shots, has playoff experience and can have a heat check in a big game to help swing the outcome. He is not going to be great every game, but he can have a huge game in a big moment to swing an entire series. We saw that with Brooklyn during the playoffs.

Green shot 41.2% from three in the regular season. While he is traditionally a three/four, he was run as a small-ball center in Brooklyn and can give the Lakers the same outlook if the matchup dictates. He is not an above-average defensive player, but he is at least on par with Kuzma if not better.