There are quite a few players that the Los Angeles Lakers likely wish they could get back after getting rid of them in recent years. Kyle Kuzma is one of those players not only because the team would redo the Russell Westbrook trade in a heartbeat but because Kuzma’s impact is sorely missed.
Fans might not have appreciated Kuzma as much as they should have when he was in Los Angeles. Trade rumors circled around Kuzma’s head more than anything else and his play got dissected more than any other role player.
Lakers fans didn’t realize what they had until it was gone. Kuzma may not have been perfect but he was a quality role player that the team has not been able to replicate. Since leaving, Kuzma has really blossomed for the Washington Wizards, especially this season.
With a player option after this season and newfound cap space for LA, fans may have hoped that Kuzma would have a homecoming and return to Los Angeles as several other former Lakers have. Unfortunately, the latest report from Shams Charania kills that dream.
According to the report, rival executives believe that Kuzma will get a new contract that pays him between $20-25 million per season. While the Lakers have cap space, that effectively prices them out of re-signing Kuzma next summer.
The Lakers likely won’t be able to trade for Kyle Kuzma, either.
Kyle Kuzma is naturally going to draw trade interest from other teams with his strong play this season. This hurts for Los Angeles, who have the contracts to trade for Kuzma but simply do not have the assets to compete with other contending teams.
The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns are among teams to express interest in Kyle Kuzma, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/kdaaHfgYKV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 6, 2022
Both the Hawks and Suns can offer more than the Lakers in a trade for Kuzma. Sure, the Lakers have two of the most valuable assets in the sport with their future first-round picks but they would be foolish to trade those for Kuzma.
If the team is not willing to trade those picks to get Russell Westbrook off the roster then they are not going to trade those picks to get half a season of Kuzma. It is not rocket science.
That leaves the team with bad assets that consist of Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn. Neither player has any value whatsoever to Washington. However, the Suns and Hawks could both offer packages that do not hinder their future and are good enough to get Kuzma in town.
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So while it was nice seeing Kuzma again when the Lakers played the Wizards on Sunday, Lakers fans should not be expecting him to return to the purple and gold any time soon.