Kyle Kuzma’s place on the Los Angeles Lakers roster has become a focus over the last couple of weeks as the NBA trade deadline is now less than a month away on Feb. 6 and the Lakers otherwise lack realistic trade possibilities without including Kuzma.
Names such as Sacramento’s Bogdan Bogdanovic have been attached to Kuzma’s in rumors but there are still a lot of obstacles in the way of the Lakers when it comes to trading him. Kuzma’s salary of $1.9 million makes it hard to find a player of a high enough caliber that it actually helps the Lakers. But there are also key personalities within the Lakers that still believe in Kuzma, most notably general manager Rob Pelinka and LeBron James, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Pelinka’s connection stems from drafting Kuzma, according to Amick.
As for James, whose influence and voice should never be overlooked in situations like this, a source with knowledge of his thinking said he remains supportive of Kuzma.
Pelinka’s selection of Kuzma was one of his first big moves as the general manager of the Lakers, which was the pick L.A. got back from the Brooklyn Nets for D’Angelo Russell. That history, as well as the fact that Kuzma was the lone young Laker spared in the Anthony Davis trade talks, makes it hard to see a real deal for Kuzma materializing before now and Feb. 6.
