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I think he has enough talent so be a fringe All-Star player, a poor mans Carmelo. At very least a strong starter on a team. Although Harrell does affect his minutes, I think finding time for Matthews, THT and Markieff Morris is more of the issue. For Kuzma to get the minutes he deserves, one of those guys isn't playing. Matthews is a better defender and 3 point shooter, and more natural at guard. THT is emerging as someone who can play the 1 2 or 3. Morris can play the 3,4 or 5, and brings a calm toughness and a 3 point shot as well. Even with Covid, and injuries, and everything else, Kuzma does not have a role and will not get consistent minutes.

I have heard someone started a rumor George Hill, which I don't know if that's the best. Shroder, Caruso, Matthews, Caldwell-Pope, THT, and even LeBron is a loaded backcourt/wing. I dont know if they need a 5th playmaker. I do think they could use a rough 7 footer who is ok with 10 minutes top a night. But who knows. I hope Luzma gets a chance to show what he can do on the regular.

Meh. I don’t think he has much value on the trade market or we might’ve seen him dealt already. At this point, I’d rather just run him this year again and extend appropriately, assuming no one comes calling at the deadline with value.

I don't think he's a net positive for this team, I'm sure in fact of this.

If he tears his achilles tomorrow, this team will be at least the same if not better. Because as you said, certain players who are on par value wise will either warm the bench or see 10 mins a game with him on board.
We're certainly not gonna be worse.


I don't even want a player in return, since that would bring us to the same "too much depth' problems. Give me a 1st back.
Most of the guys are FA in the summer, we're certainly not bringing back all of them. We can address a possible need for next year via draft, players on rookie deals will be extremely valuable.


Monday is the deadline for his extension, I don't think it's a coincidence this hasn't been done until now with THT's emergence.
It was rumored before the preaseason than there are talks for an extension, but they basically died down after the games started.

THT needs to be paid next summer as well and I don't think the FA wants to pay them both.

I mean the Lakers are in a good position to make a blockbuster trade later in the season if a superstar demands a trade or a team blows it up. A package of Kuz, Caruso, THT, could land a big star. What a good problem to have.


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If we just use him purely as a 3nD player (constant ready and available 3pt threat and a lean lengthy wing defender..not what 3nD definition has morphed into on this team as a guy more into playmaking and integral on offensive strategy ) and occasional cut to the basket , he's fine and useful.

Laker1 wrote:I mean the Lakers are in a good position to make a blockbuster trade later in the season if a superstar demands a trade or a team blows it up. A package of Kuz, Caruso, THT, could land a big star. What a good problem to have.


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That's a total salary of 8m mate.. how??

For what Kuz makes, he has over performed three years in a row. Extend him. He’s certainly worth a 1+1 (team or player option) for a decent to good pay check. He earned it; by manning up for single coverage of Jimmy B in game 5 and 6 alone.

I honestly thinks he's happy to be in LA. If he goes to a small market, I don't think he will be happy.

He's worth extending. It's a bit like young JaVale. He used to make bonehead plays and people thought he was bad because the bonehead plays stand out. JaVale was good for a young player though and so is Kuzma.

He had 4th most minutes per game on a championship team last year. He's a few years from prime. He's had altered roles every year of his career. Kuzma is worth paying to keep.

Caruso, Kuzma, Schroeder, THT all are looking for a payrise next off-season. Lakers likely benefit of each of them reduce the others minutes.

You can't get good value for Kuzma's current contract. And I don't think the Lakers extend Kuzma for the sole reason of trading him. If they do extend him that makes Kuzma more tradable, but if the Lakers were to extend him, I'd expect Kuzma to stick around for least another year

lazybatman wrote:

Laker1 wrote:I mean the Lakers are in a good position to make a blockbuster trade later in the season if a superstar demands a trade or a team blows it up. A package of Kuz, Caruso, THT, could land a big star. What a good problem to have.


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That's a total salary of 8m mate.. how??

Sorry . I just assumed that it was obvious a cap filler/fillers would need to be used around a package of THT,Caruso, Kuzma. That’s what I meant by “package of.”

Like I said trade Kuzma for a traditional C that can block shots. Gives Gasol a break.

ScHoolBoy B wrote:Like I said trade Kuzma for a traditional C that can block shots. Gives Gasol a break.

Who do you have in mind?


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Laker1 wrote:

ScHoolBoy B wrote:Like I said trade Kuzma for a traditional C that can block shots. Gives Gasol a break.

Who do you have in mind?


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Was thinking about Kuz for Jarett Allen trade. Both have similar contracts and 1 year left remaining on their contracts. Don't know if Nets will bite though.

I think we'll end up trading Kuz too, cos the massive jump needed to get him his bag is likely not coming.

We need to stop panicking though about Ayton having a good game though. Dwight & McGee played off the court against the Nurkic, Whiteside, Bam and Jokic after he figured Dwight's limitations out. Shot blocking is over rated and AD is under rated.

Cook & Dud are clear chemistry moves, and I don't expect them to get flipped before the deadline in case of injuries or a great piece becoming available.

I'd pack donuts with Kuz for Allen, if it was on the table, cos Allen's absolutely amazing, but can't see Nets' motivation to do it. I'd still leak that story to f*ck with the Nets's chemistry even more, cos Kyrie/KD clearly love De'Andre more, and think he's above Allen in the pecking order.

zimpy27 wrote:He's worth extending. It's a bit like young JaVale. He used to make bonehead plays and people thought he was bad because the bonehead plays stand out. JaVale was good for a young player though and so is Kuzma.

He had 4th most minutes per game on a championship team last year. He's a few years from prime. He's had altered roles every year of his career. Kuzma is worth paying to keep.

Caruso, Kuzma, Schroeder, THT all are looking for a payrise next off-season. Lakers likely benefit of each of them reduce the others minutes.

He may actually not be worth extending...

They broke off extension talks... Rumors are he wasn't happy to be told he's still going to have to battle for court time with guys like Mathews, Morris, and Trez... He's also supposedly seaking a "Sizable" raise... Right now he's at a little under $4m/yr... So who knows what that could be, but I'm guessing double-digits, which I don't think we can afford to do for what he puts on the court... Even $8M/yr like KCP would be a huge hit to our future flexibility.

At the very least, I think the idea that we could extend him on the cheap is probably unrealistic at this point... He's looking to finally get paid, or get a good role, not sign on the cheap AND fight for PT...

I've been talking about extend and trading him... If we did that, he'd be eligible for around $7.67/3yrs... I don't know if he'd take that, but he might if we could find him a guaranteed starting role.
Just not sure who we could get for around $8M/yr...

Kilroy wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:He's worth extending. It's a bit like young JaVale. He used to make bonehead plays and people thought he was bad because the bonehead plays stand out. JaVale was good for a young player though and so is Kuzma.

He had 4th most minutes per game on a championship team last year. He's a few years from prime. He's had altered roles every year of his career. Kuzma is worth paying to keep.

Caruso, Kuzma, Schroeder, THT all are looking for a payrise next off-season. Lakers likely benefit of each of them reduce the others minutes.

He may actually not be worth extending...

They broke off extension talks... Rumors are he wasn't happy to be told he's still going to have to battle for court time with guys like Mathews, Morris, and Trez... He's also supposedly seaking a "Sizable" raise... Right now he's at a little under $4m/yr... So who knows what that could be, but I'm guessing double-digits, which I don't think we can afford to do for what he puts on the court... Even $8M/yr like KCP would be a huge hit to our future flexibility.

At the very least, I think the idea that we could extend him on the cheap is probably unrealistic at this point... He's looking to finally get paid, or get a good role, not sign on the cheap AND fight for PT...

I've been talking about extend and trading him... If we did that, he'd be eligible for around $7.67/3yrs... I don't know if he'd take that, but he might if we could find him a guaranteed starting role.
Just not sure who we could get for around $8M/yr...

Well KCP is making $13m next season. I imagine Kuzma would want $10m/year minimum.

Lakers can afford it if Kuzma is worth that money on the FA market as he likely gets better when he settles into a role.

He also has decent value in that he can fill a role from SG to PF. His flexibility is pretty valuable and he works hard brings a nice culture to the team.

TJ Warren is the best comparison for Kuzma in the league. Here is a comparison of Kuzma's last season to Warrens season prior to getting a $50m/4 year extension. Warren vs Kuzma
Similar numbers though TJ put in more work on getting offensive boards while also kept the TOs to half of Kuzma. I'd probably put Kuzma's value at around $46m/4 based on last seasons numbers, which is about $10.27m in 21-22 season. If Kuzma gets any better than last season then that will climb.

ScHoolBoy B wrote:

Laker1 wrote:

ScHoolBoy B wrote:Like I said trade Kuzma for a traditional C that can block shots. Gives Gasol a break.

Who do you have in mind?


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Was thinking about Kuz for Jarett Allen trade. Both have similar contracts and 1 year left remaining on their contracts. Don't know if Nets will bite though.

You guys think New York will trade Mitchell Robinson for Kuzma?

Laker1 wrote:

lazybatman wrote:

Laker1 wrote:I mean the Lakers are in a good position to make a blockbuster trade later in the season if a superstar demands a trade or a team blows it up. A package of Kuz, Caruso, THT, could land a big star. What a good problem to have.


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That's a total salary of 8m mate.. how??

Sorry . I just assumed that it was obvious a cap filler/fillers would need to be used around a package of THT,Caruso, Kuzma. That’s what I meant by “package of.”

Everyone except AD+Bron for Luka, maybe.. No other superstar worth throwing away Caruso & THT at those salaries.

Rest of team is our third star. We just beat the Clippers without the two superstars even playing.

Let’s focus on team defense now. The rest will follow.