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[Saba Sports News] Only LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain from the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship squad, but that could change by this season’s trade deadline.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Monday that the Lakers are exploring a potential trade for forward Kyle Kuzma, currently with the Washington Wizards.
However, they’re not alone in their interest, as Milwaukee, Golden State, Miami, and Cleveland are also reportedly monitoring Kuzma.
Kuzma, 29, began his NBA career with the Lakers in 2017 and became a versatile 6-foot-9 scorer during his time in Los Angeles.
A key contributor to the Lakers’ 2020 title run, Kuzma was traded to the Wizards in 2021 as part of the Russell Westbrook deal. In Washington, he has flourished with increased minutes and responsibility, posting back-to-back 20-point-per-game seasons before seeing a dip to 15.8 points per game this year.
With Washington holding the league’s worst record at 2-16, Kuzma, who is signed through 2027 on a declining salary contract, has become a prime trade asset ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.
While the Lakers’ pursuit of Kuzma makes sense from a basketball perspective, his recent critical remarks about Lakers GM Rob Pelinka may add an extra layer of intrigue to any potential reunion.