Lakers rumors: L.A. open to reunion with polarizing former first-round pick

Any time trade rumors exist, it's fair to assume that the Los Angeles Lakers will be mentioned. Whether it's due to the franchise's reputation as a star-hungry organization looking to improve at any cost, or simply responsible roster management by a front office determined to exhaust its resources, it's a truth Lakers fans have generally accepted.

The 2024-25 season has already presented fans with rumors to be intrigued by, and the latest update could be the most divisive to date.

Los Angeles has been linked to a number of players at center, but there appears to be interest in improving the depth at other positions, as well. That includes forward, where the likes of Rui Hachimura and LeBron James have led an injury-plagued rotation.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, one of the players the Lakers could pursue in an attempt to round out their group of forwards is Washington Wizards standout Kyle Kuzma.

"Other teams who’ve kept tabs on Kuzma include the Bucks, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, and Cavaliers, HoopsHype has learned."

It would be a second stint in Los Angeles for Kuzma, who was a first-round draft pick and ultimately became an NBA champion.

Lakers keeping an eye on Kyle Kuzma as trade target

The Lakers selected Kuzma at No. 27 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors during his first season with the team, seemingly setting the stage for an ascension to stardom that began when he and Lonzo Ball displayed remarkable chemistry during Summer League.

Kuzma seemingly took a step forward during his second season with the Lakers, averaging 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

Unfortunately, the former Utah Utes star struggled to find his offensive consistency once the Lakers brought in Anthony Davis. He helped Los Angeles win a title nonetheless in 2019-20, and took a step forward as a shooter in 2020-21, but was infamously traded for Russell Westbrook shortly thereafter.

Kuzma has since become one of the most intriguing offensive players in the NBA from a statistical perspective, averaging 20.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game between 2021-22 and 2023-24.

The question facing the Lakers is how they'd plan to incorporate Kuzma into their current rotation. He's a versatile offensive player who can pass, dribble, and shoot from midrange, albeit with an outside shot that's erred on the side of inefficient.

On a team that still has Davis and LeBron James, as well as up-and-coming talent such as Dalton Knecht and Austin Reaves, volume scoring isn't exactly a desired trait—in the starting lineup.

It's unclear if Kuzma would be willing to take on a sixth man role, but he could thrive within it in Los Angeles. He'd have the volume his style of play demands from a scoring perspective and could greatly impact a Lakers team that ranks 27th in bench scoring.

The logistics of a trade remain unclear, but with Kuzma in the second season of a frontloaded four-year, $90 million contract, there's much to consider.