Media

Report: NBA executive ‘surprised’ Lakers didn’t trade Kyle Kuzma this offseason

Published by
Peter Dewey

The Los Angeles Lakers made a flurry of moves this offseason, but they held onto forward Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma, 25, had a down season last year. He averaged just 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game after averaging 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during the 2018-19 season.

The addition of Anthony Davis certainly cut into Kuzma’s production.

However, the Lakers are in win-now mode and won the title last season with the help of Davis.

That seems to have put Kuzma’s development as a budding star on hold, and one NBA executive was surprised that the Lakers didn’t move on from Kuzma this offseason.

The executive explained why to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

“I think [Dennis] Schröder was a really good pickup for them,” the executive said. “I’m surprised (fourth-year forward Kyle) Kuzma is still on the roster. I thought they’d be moving him … because of chemistry stuff. But the Lakers got better. They’re one year older, LeBron [James] is one year older, but I still think they got better. They got KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) back, who was good.”

The Lakers will go into the 2020-21 season with Kuzma on the roster, but if an upgrade is available, it is possible that the Lakers could move the young forward.

The 2020-21 season is set to begin on Dec. 22.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

NFL legend calls out Lakers for having more pride in winning In-Season Tournament than current series

The Los Angeles Lakers looked like dark horse contenders for the NBA championship earlier this…

April 26, 2024

Former Lakers champ defends Darvin Ham as L.A.’s season goes on life support

Former Los Angeles Lakers guard and teammate of LeBron James in J.R. Smith came to…

April 26, 2024

Richard Jefferson on overturned call in Lakers-Nuggets Game 2: ‘Makes me question everything I know about basketball’

Former NBA player Richard Jefferson questioned the overturned foul call on Michael Porter Jr. in…

April 25, 2024

Darvin Ham responds to Anthony Davis’ perceived shot at Lakers coaching staff

The Los Angeles Lakers are justifiably frustrated following their Game 2 meltdown against the Denver…

April 24, 2024

Shaquille O’Neal guarantees Lakers will make changes if they lose to Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers have already fallen behind 0-2 in their playoff series against the…

April 24, 2024

‘Don’t give up on us’: D’Angelo Russell makes huge promise to Lakers fans

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell took to Discord following the team's loss to the…

April 23, 2024