In perpetual quest for reinforcements for the workforce, the Lakers have not hesitated to market some of their players. Among them is Kyle Kuzma, who could well have changed conference at the trade deadline. The Angelino leaders were indeed not far from finalizing a deal with a franchise in the East!
Not really in great shape lately, Kyle Kuzma is a symbol of the Lakers’ mishap in recent weeks. The No. 0 of the Crimson and Gold is just a shadow of himself in attack, and seems less and less comfortable in Frank Vogel’s systems. And it does not date from yesterday …
Indeed, Kuz ‘is regularly cited in transfer rumors during the upcoming offseason. But as Jake Fischer reveals from Bleacher Report, the former product of the University of Utah almost packed his bags at the trade deadline. The reporter explains that the Californians had approached the Nets about an exchange, the boy no longer really smelling of sanctity in LA:
Los Angeles made offers involving Kyle Kuzma to teams ahead of the March trade deadline. Kuzma will start a three-year, $ 39 million contract next season. “I think they have been trying to move Kuzma for a long time,” added a deputy general manager. “His defense has always been questionable, and I think his early success has become a bit overrated.
In addition to their quest for Kyle Lowry, the Lakers have surveyed the league for opportunities to acquire a player in his rookie contract, perhaps making the connection between the James-Davis chapter and the inevitable post-James future. . Ahead of Spencer Dinwiddie’s injury, Los Angeles even looked into the possibility of adding Brooklyn’s backup point guard in exchange for Kuzma.
So that could have been a hell of a move. Sending Kuzma to Brooklyn to pick up Spencer Dinwiddie would not have immediately helped the defending champions, point guard injury required. On the other hand, he would have been an excellent alternative to King at post 1 afterwards, he who signed big performances in the jersey of the Nets.
The latter would also have won a player both good scorer and capable on the wings, especially at three points. Not unimportant in the league these days, that. In addition, he would bring with him the experience of a title and already knows the status of role player in a candidate for the title. The integration would have been more obvious.
In the end, this trade between behemoths of the big league did not take place. But who knows, maybe the negotiations will start again over the next summer?
