The Los Angeles Lakers have two main problems with their current roster: they have too many players and they lack a starting forward. Polarizing former champion Kyle Kuzma could technically solve both of those things with a return to Hollywood.
It would have to come under specific circumstances for the Lakers to feel good about the move. The Lakers Collective featuring Trevor Lane, Jovan Buha, and Pete Zayas wrestled with the idea. If the outgoing package is limited to Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, the trio were intrigued with Kuzma as a fallback. That is more or less the right attitude for Los Angeles.
Kyle Kuzma can be the polarizing fallback plan if Lakers' main pursuits fail
If the endless chase of Jonathan Kuminga falls through, the Lakers will still need someone capable of delivering starting-caliber basketball at the forward spot. Granted, there are certainly other names one would look to before Kuzma.
Cameron Johnson and P.J. Washington stick out as prime alternatives for the Lakers in the event of Kuminga signing elsewhere. However, for one reason or another, those guys may not be there for Los Angeles' taking.
The Dallas Mavericks may not be willing business partners on a bigger deal due to their recent history, even if they were involved in a couple of moves at the 2026 NBA Draft with the Lakers. The Denver Nuggets could also choose to accept their second apron fate and push forward.
Kuzma's reputation has taken a hit with the Milwaukee Bucks after uneven play in recent seasons. That is why not every fan will immediately get behind the idea. However, the Lakers could take a low-cost swing on a guy who would get a much-needed change of environment.
Combining Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht into Kyle Kuzma is an easy win
As long as the Lakers are selling the Bucks on this trade with the idea of Knecht being the main (and only other) asset that makes taking on Vanderbilt's hefty contract worth it, there is little harm in doing the deal. Kuzma is an expiring contract. His $20.5 million comes off the books next summer.
That would give the Lakers a way out of an extra season of having Vanderbilt under contract. It would also successfully get their roster to 15 players. Both of those things make this a deal that is relatively easy to get behind, despite Kuzma's underwhelming play from recent years.
Envisioning Kuz as a player willing to buy in on his new Lakers role is much easier than having that thought with Kuminga, too. By several stretches of the imagination, Kuzma is as safe of a fallback as Los Angeles can get right now. It might take fans some time to sit with that thought, but there is plenty of truth to it.
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