The Lakers are once again being linked to Kyle Kuzma
In what is becoming an annual tradition, the Lakers have once again been linked to a possible trade for Kyle Kuzma.
There are few things the Lakers have enjoyed more during Rob Pelinka’s tenure in the front office than reacquiring former Lakers. From Wayne Ellington to Dwight Howard to Trevor Ariza, the list is long and gets bigger yearly.
Kyle Kuzma is one of the names to be rumored most throughout the year to make the jump back to SoCal. After being dealt in the Russell Westbrook trade, the interest has seemingly been mutual for a reunion. It’s also been fairly persistent.
And so, it’s about time we get the annual link between the Lakers and Kuzma. On Monday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Lakers are monitoring Kuzma.
“Teams around the league believe the 29-year-old forward is worth monitoring as a trade candidate due to his skillset and declining salary over the next two years while in his prime years. Executives around the league also believe Kuzma doesn’t fit the long-term timeline of Washington’s young core.
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Other teams who’ve kept tabs on Kuzma include the Bucks, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, and Cavaliers, HoopsHype has learned.”
The Lakers and Kuzma have a long history with one another even after parting ways. After being dealt, Kuzma said there were no hard feelings between he and the franchise and even spoke about the struggles of the Lakers being hard to watch.
He also left the door open himself for a possible reunion. To that point, back in 2022, the Lakers reportedly expressed interest in trading for him. In free agency that following summer, there were rumors of the Lakers being interested in bringing Kuzma back, too.
Instead, Kuzma stayed in Washington on a 4-year, $90-million deal, which brings us to present day. He is in the second year of that deal and is set to make $23 million, but it is a declining deal over the next two seasons.
Still, at a figure that high, the Lakers would need to trade multiple pieces to acquire him. Is that a deal worth making? That’s going to be the general sentiment the Lakers are going to have to battle with over the coming months as the trade deadline approaches.
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