The Los Angeles Lakers face something of a conundrum when it comes to the future of former first-round pick Kyle Kuzma.
It was not long ago Kuzma looked like a future franchise centerpiece. He came into last season having averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his sophomore campaign while also showing more effort on the defensive end of the floor.
However, Kuzma saw a massive decline in his individual role last season, essentially getting relegated to a sixth-man role. While he played hard and made more strides defensively, he never found an offensive rhythm off the bench.
Fresh off a championship season, the Lakers are very much still in win-now mode. Meanwhile, Kuzma is eligible for a rookie extension.
The latter point could facilitate some quick decision-making from the Lakers. Kuzma has upside and could still be part of L.A.'s future plans. Simultaneously, he might not be the best roster fit when it comes to the Lakers' desire to win another championship in the immediate future.
Los Angeles might elect to trade Kuzma rather than offer him a rookie extension. In the event Rob Pelinka and Co. choose the trade route, they might very well hope to acquire a backcourt player, especially if there is skepticism regarding the team's ability to re-sign Rajon Rondo this offseason.
It remains to be seen what Kuzma's value is with respect to other clubs around the NBA, though there is the possibility he could flourish in a more expansive starting role.
Here is the best package the Lakers can get in a trade centered around Kuzma.
The Trade: Lakers trade Kuzma, Danny Green and No. 28 pick to Detroit Pistons for Derrick Rose, Tony Snell and 2022 second-round pick
Let's say the Lakers do indeed attempt to acquire a point guard. Rose is probably the guy who makes the most sense.
The former MVP has revitalized his career in the past two years, including a 2019-20 season during which he averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game.
Rose's per-36 numbers were very much on par with his 2010-11 MVP season with the Chicago Bulls. He has displayed more explosiveness and would likely thrive in pick-and-roll sets with Anthony Davis and L.A.'s other rim-running bigs, not to mention LeBron James.
Rondo was successful for the Lakers during the NBA restart because he could get into the paint and collapse the defense. Rose has the upside of being able to finish through contact at the rim, something Rondo has traditionally struggled with throughout his career.
Snell would be more of a salary dump in this deal, but he would still have plenty of value to next year's Lakers squad.
The 29-year-old is a career 38.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and he's also coming off a year in which he made 40.2 percent of his 3-pointers on 4.3 attempts per game. Snell is also capable of playing multiple positions, and that positional flexibility could be invaluable to the Lakers.
Another reason the deal makes sense for L.A. is the fact both Rose and Snell will be on expiring deals. The Lakers can potentially bolster the roster for next season while also keeping their books clear for the future.
As for Detroit, the Pistons are in desperate need of young assets to build around. It is certainly possible Kuzma could be that guy, an athletic wing who can score, rebound and figures to improve his shooting as his career rolls along.
The Pistons are in somewhat of a confounding financial position, at least in the immediate sense. But Kuzma still qualifies as a guy they could sign to a rookie extension without further endangering their future financial situation. Furthermore, Kuzma is from Flint, Michigan, so he'd be heading home in such a deal.
Meanwhile, the Pistons would also get a wing player with a strong defensive pedigree in Green. Detroit ranked 22nd in defensive rating this past season, and Green would almost certainly bolster the team on that end of the floor.
Moreover, despite his struggles in the bubble, Green still shot a respectable 36.7 percent from beyond the arc, and he's shooting exactly 40 percent from deep for his career. Green will also be on an expiring contract.
The Lakers would likely still have to include this year's first-rounder in any hypothetical deal, though that is fairly inconsequential. Remember, L.A. is striving for more titles in the coming seasons, rendering late-round draft picks somewhat useless.
But the Pistons could be interested in adding to their draft stockpile, especially if it means they could also leverage the No. 28 pick in addition to the No. 7 pick to move up and select someone like LaMelo Ball.
Los Angeles probably cannot hope to hit a home run in a deal involving Kuzma. However, there are also no guarantees the Lakers view him as a big part of the future.
This deal would give L.A. a pair of impact players who seemingly fit needs while also keeping the books clear for the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe