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

3. Russell Westbrook

We have a Russell Westbrook article planned for later today so we are doing a bit of double-dipping here because it is true: Westbrook is a better fit on the Los Angeles Lakers than Kyle Kuzma is. And of course, like with Green, the ceiling moving forward is higher for Kuzma than Carmelo.

The problem with Kuzma in LA is that he has always tried to be someone who the Lakers do not need. He was given the chance to play with a high usage rate and try to initiate offense and create his own shots when the Lakers were not a playoff team.

Sure, he nearly averaged 20 points per game, but he was still extremely inefficient in doing so and there is a reason that the Lakers were not great. If Kuzma is your top scorer then you probably are not a great basketball team.

He has still tried to be that guy but in a more limited role. We have all seen Kuzma enter hero ball mode off the bench and that just isn’t what this team needs. This team needed an off-ball threat that can hit open shots from three and play solid defense.

This is not a fast-paced basketball team that is looking for Kuzma to be Giannis in transition (which Kuzma seems to think he is). Kuzma may call it an inconsistent role but it is only inconsistent because it is not what he wants to be.

Carmelo has proven that he is willing to take that step back and while he has a bit of hero ball in him at times, he is also far more willing to be an off-ball shooter, as evident from his two seasons in Portland. He is still a great three-point shooter, shooting over 40% last season, and while he is not a good defender, neither is Kuzma.