Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma is splitting with his Priority Sports and Entertainment representatives Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin, the Los Angeles Times' Tania Ganguli reports.
Ganguli adds that the 23-year-old Kuzma has not met with prospective agents yet.
Kuzma will enter his third season in the NBA on a vastly different Lakers team than the past; LeBron James headlines the re-vamped team that features All-NBA forward Anthony Davis, All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins, two-time champion shooting guard Danny Green, and veteran forward Jared Dudley.
Notably, the LA squad will be without Kuzma's running mates Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart as general manager Rob Pelinka dealt his team's young players in the offseason in order to acquire Davis.
During trade negotiations with New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin, Pelinka and the Lakers made the 6-foot-9 power forward and former 27th overall pick “untouchable,” instead prioritizing keeping Kuzma over the three 20-something-year-olds now in the Bayou with Zion Williamson.
Davis' arrival in Los Angeles is due in part to super agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who represents “The Brow” along with James and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the latter of which was re-signed in the summer, too.
In two seasons, Kuzma has averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in 147 contests, shooting 45.3% from the floor, 33.5% from long-range, and 73.1% from the free throw line.
The Lakers, gearing up to battle with intra-city rivals Clippers next season, appear to be focused on involving Kuzma and keeping him close to the team's core.
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