With LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers are primed for success. But with James growing older by the day, and fears growing that Davis might leave L.A., there is a sense of urgency to improve the roster, especially if they fail to win the Championship this season.
When it comes to any possible deal, Kyle Kuzma is going to be the key to getting something done, and according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers may already have a few scenarios in mind.
“Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie would be an ideal target if he became available. Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield is an elite shooter and could feast on open looks that James and Davis generate. An athletic scorer like Zach LaVine might be interesting as well, given the Chicago Bulls’ recent front-office turnover. Kuzma is under contract for one more season at $3.6 million (he’s eligible for an extension this offseason), so the Lakers would need to send out significant additional salary to match for higher-paid players like LaVine or Hield. The Lakers also don’t have much else to offer in terms of future draft considerations.”
The team’s biggest hole is in their backcourt, where LeBron James is currently performing ost of the duties. While he has been great in terms of filling the guard role, the Lakers need to add some depth in that department to bolster both ends of the floor and to allow LeBron James to play in off-ball offensive opportunities.
In Hield, Dinwiddie, and LaVine, the Lakers get a guard who can run the offense and find their own shot both on drives and on the perimeter.
Obviously, something like this will greatly improve their position going forward. The question is, is Kuzma enough to get them such a return?
He’s still young and his ceiling seems relatively high. But he has yet to prove he is capable of star-level play and he has struggled mightily with James and Davis at the helm.
It’ll be interesting to see if he remains a long-term staple of their plans.
