Lakers predicted to acquire undervalued $90 million NBA champion in multi-team trade | Sporting News
A talented Washington Wizards wing who won a title with Los Angeles in 2020 could return to the Lakers later this season.
“Bringing back Kyle Kuzma would solve the issues on the wing. Kuzma has only played in 12 games so far this season but is a proven scorer,” Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Stano wrote Monday.
“He averaged over 20 points per game for the Wizards a year ago. If he is healthy, he can provide a scoring punch from the small-forward position.”
“Gabe Vincent has had injury issues since the moment that he signed with the Lakers. They would like to keep him if they can, but this would be too good of a package to pass up.”
“Jalen Hood-Schifino has hardly played with the Lakers since taking him a year ago. Trading him to Washington would give him a chance to show the league what he’s got.”
“This is one of the best packages that the Lakers will be able to get at the trade deadline. Once Kuzma gets healthy, he would give the Lakers an added layer of depth that they don’t currently have.”
“He also has already played in LA, so he knows what the expectations are in that city.
In Stano’s blockbuster multi-team trade proposal, the Lakers would receive Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas; the Wizards would receive Jarred Vanderbilt, Hood-Schifino, Vincent, Jordan Clarkson, and a Top 3 protected 2029 first-round pick, and the Jazz would receive Rui Hachimura, Christian Wood, and a 2025 second-round pick.
Kuzma wasn’t the Lakers’ MVP during their memorable 2019-20 championship season, but it’s fair to say the Utah product’s contributions were greatly appreciated.
Kuzma netted 12.8 points per contest in the regular season and 10 points per game in the playoffs for the last team standing in the bubble.
However, Kuzma’s efficiency wasn’t a massive strength during his four-year stint with Los Angeles, as the natural isolation scorer never shot above 45.6% from the field and 36.6% from deep.
Still, with the Lakers preparing to move on from a disappointing lottery pick in Hood-Schifino, adding Kuzma, an established wing threat with championship experience, wouldn’t be a terrible decision.
