With the 2021 NBA Draft, player-option deadlines, and free agency fast approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers are aggressively pursuing trades with, well, whoever will pick up the phone. Besides LeBron James and Anthony Davis, everybody is on the table.
At the center of that table is Kyle Kuzma. The Lakers have been shopping him for years — including at the March deadline — and they've reportedly contacted every team in the league about Kuz.
Earlier this week, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Los Angeles has talked with the Sacramento Kings about a trade centered around Kuzma and Buddy Hield.
Hield wouldn't exactly address the Lakers' need for another ball handler and off-the-dribble playmaker, but his elite high-volume perimeter shooting would add a much-needed dynamic to their offense. The 28-year-old has averaged 18.9 points per game over the past three seasons and shot 39.1% on 10.2 3-point attempts per game in 2020-21. His defense is suspect, but the Lakers' D is going to be staunch as long as Frank Vogel and Anthony Davis are participating.
Kuzma is owed $13 million in 2020-21. Hield is owed $22.5 million — the second of a four-year, $94 million deal. With both teams over the cap, the Lakers would need to get closer to matching Hield's figure to execute a trade.
Enter Montrezl Harrell.
Harrell has until Aug. 1 to pick up his $9.7 million player option for 2021-22. Initially, that outcome was considered unlikely, but a disappointing end to the season and a potentially bullish 2022 free agency market may cause him and his representation (Klutch Sports) to change course.
According to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, Harrell is “50/50” on the decision — perhaps an indicator of a lukewarm market. This comes on the heels of reports that Harrell was “leaning toward” picking up the option.
If Trezz does pick it the PO, he could very well be included in a package for Hield, per Scotto. The Lakers may also have to toss in the No. 22 pick in Thursday's draft — which the Kings should absolutely demand — to seal the deal. (L.A. can trade their 2027 first-rounder, too.)
As Scotto notes, because of the leaguewide interest in Richaun Holmes (RFA), the idea of acquiring Harrell, 27, could be appealing to the Kings. Any deal would be dependent on Harrell's opt-in cooperation, and the Lakers will always work hand-in-hand with Rich Paul. It's certainly easy to envision Trezz racking up the numbers in Sacto and upping his value.
The Kings could ask for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — also at $13 million — who plays Hield's position, instead of Kuzma, but it sounds like they'd prefer the versatile forward.
The Lakers have also been shopping the No. 22 pick just as aggressively as Kuzma. According to reports, the Lakers discussed a trade with the Indiana Pacers that would have sent Kuzma and their first-rounder to Indiana for the No. 13 pick and T.J. Warren, but were turned down. The Lakers have no second-round pick.
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