The Sacramento Kings were looking to make moves in December once it became apparent that the Los Angeles Lakers were willing to part with forward Kyle Kuzma for the right price. According to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, the Kings offered forward Nemanja Bjelica and a pick in return for Kuzma.
The Lakers reportedly counteracted by asking for Bogdan Bogdanovic in return, to which the Kings said no.
While Bjelica and a pick (assuming a first-round kind) doesn't seem to be enough compensation for Kuzma, a quick look at the numbers would suggest otherwise.
Bjelica is averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists this season — all career-high marks. He has started in 44 of 47 games and is shooting the ball better than ever — 48.6% from the floor, 43.4% from deep, and a strong 87% from the foul line.
Kuzma is averaging career lows in points (12.9), rebounds (4.0), and assists (1.1) — numbers that are masked by the success of the Lakers and the lack of need they've had for him thus far at 36-10.
This is a classic sell-high, buy-low scenario by the Kings, hoping to cash in on Kuzma's misfortunes to nab a player with some upside.
Ultimately, Kuzma is viewed as a player who favored from a starting role and ample minutes but has struggled to fit in as a complementary piece and find offense without the ball. Bjelica knows his role and has thrived in it, resulting in these career-best numbers.
Once Bogdanovic was mentioned, all talks were off, considering he is at this point of his career a more well-rounded and experienced player.
He won a EuroLeague championship with Fenerbahce in 2017 and led Serbia to a fifth-place finish at the FIBA World Cup this past summer. He’s a two-time Turkish League champion, two-time Adriatic League champion, and four-time Serbian League champion — all accolades that have proved he's a cog worth keeping.
The Kings recently started to re-evaluate him, giving him the starting nod over Buddy Hield, whom they paid handsomely early in the season — that alone should speak as to why the Kings were so reluctant to swap him for the struggling Kuzma.
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