will kuzma be an all star for lakers or just a good role player?

[Spens1]

won't be an allstar in the west

at best a rashard lewis level all-star

would trade him for lillard (or similar) in a heartbeat

If only such a miracle offer came along. I'd probably entertain an offer if they gave us McCollum to be honest (though due to that contract they'd have to give us something else).

How can you trade a guy making $1.9M for both McCollum AND someone else?

btw.... adding Lillard to Bron and Davis sounds like a video game move..... it would not result in a net add IMHO. A role player who will fit in where needed is very valuable to a team with a couple top stars. Adding that 3 star is risky when it's at the expense of a fitting role player. For every Kobe there was a Fisher..... for Shaq there was a Fox. You need those guys more than you think when you have ball dominant stars.

We do need a scoring option from one of our guards to be fair. We're very front court heavy.

[Landsberger]

If only such a miracle offer came along. I'd probably entertain an offer if they gave us McCollum to be honest (though due to that contract they'd have to give us something else).

How can you trade a guy making $1.9M for both McCollum AND someone else?

btw.... adding Lillard to Bron and Davis sounds like a video game move..... it would not result in a net add IMHO. A role player who will fit in where needed is very valuable to a team with a couple top stars. Adding that 3 star is risky when it's at the expense of a fitting role player. For every Kobe there was a Fisher..... for Shaq there was a Fox. You need those guys more than you think when you have ball dominant stars.

We do need a scoring option from one of our guards to be fair. We're very front court heavy.

Very fair point. We could use a guard that can finish at the hoop and hit the 3 consistently. Not sure we have that in one guy.

[Dr Aki]

won't be an allstar in the west

at best a rashard lewis level all-star

would trade him for lillard (or similar) in a heartbeat

If only such a miracle offer came along. I'd probably entertain an offer if they gave us McCollum to be honest (though due to that contract they'd have to give us something else).

How can you trade a guy making $1.9M for both McCollum AND someone else?

btw.... adding Lillard to Bron and Davis sounds like a video game move..... it would not result in a net add IMHO. A role player who will fit in where needed is very valuable to a team with a couple top stars. Adding that 3 star is risky when it's at the expense of a fitting role player. For every Kobe there was a Fisher..... for Shaq there was a Fox. You need those guys more than you think when you have ball dominant stars.

gotta think longer term

lillard + davis is a ready made building block in the post-[lebron's no longer an all-star] era

[BigRedDog]

there's really no room for kuzma on this squad. I think he gets traded midseason for a PG which the lakers desperately need. Danny Green cant dribble a basketball so you really need a ball dominant guard next to him who isnt washed like rondo

[Landsberger]

If only such a miracle offer came along. I'd probably entertain an offer if they gave us McCollum to be honest (though due to that contract they'd have to give us something else).

How can you trade a guy making $1.9M for both McCollum AND someone else?

btw.... adding Lillard to Bron and Davis sounds like a video game move..... it would not result in a net add IMHO. A role player who will fit in where needed is very valuable to a team with a couple top stars. Adding that 3 star is risky when it's at the expense of a fitting role player. For every Kobe there was a Fisher..... for Shaq there was a Fox. You need those guys more than you think when you have ball dominant stars.

gotta think longer term

lillard + davis is a ready made building block in the post-[lebron's no longer an all-star] era

He'd be 33 at the end of LeBron's contract. Not sure that's the long term answer.

[stan francisco]

How can you trade a guy making $1.9M for both McCollum AND someone else?

btw.... adding Lillard to Bron and Davis sounds like a video game move..... it would not result in a net add IMHO. A role player who will fit in where needed is very valuable to a team with a couple top stars. Adding that 3 star is risky when it's at the expense of a fitting role player. For every Kobe there was a Fisher..... for Shaq there was a Fox. You need those guys more than you think when you have ball dominant stars.

We do need a scoring option from one of our guards to be fair. We're very front court heavy.

Very fair point. We could use a guard that can finish at the hoop and hit the 3 consistently. Not sure we have that in one guy.

Caruso and Green.

And AD, Kuz, LeBron makes it so that we don’t need a Kobe type SG. We need a true 3 and D shooting guard, a Ray Allen type pure shooting guard. Green may not be Allen but plays defense and shoots over 40% from three, check. Caruso is 6’5”, finishes well at the rim, shoots the three well, is a good defender against 1-3.

[Spens1]

We do need a scoring option from one of our guards to be fair. We're very front court heavy.

Very fair point. We could use a guard that can finish at the hoop and hit the 3 consistently. Not sure we have that in one guy.

Caruso and Green.

And AD, Kuz, LeBron makes it so that we don’t need a Kobe type SG. We need a true 3 and D shooting guard, a Ray Allen type pure shooting guard. Green, check.

The hell is Caruso going to do in comparison to an actual star guard, he's not even a starter or starter quality as much as we love him. Green is good but again, he;s also a role player. We may not need a Kobe Bryant but we could use a third option guard.

[zimpy27]

there's really no room for kuzma on this squad. I think he gets traded midseason for a PG which the lakers desperately need. Danny Green cant dribble a basketball so you really need a ball dominant guard next to him who isnt washed like rondo

Kuzma fits very well in the elite SF/PF rotation with AD and LeBron. That's going to be the drivetrain of this team, the unrelenting pressure of the SF/PF position on the opponent. Then they have two defensive Cs that get way above the rim. After that you have 2 guards that are spot-up shooters and 2 guards that can ball handle and make plays.

Regular Season
PG: KCP (24) | Caruso (24)
SG: Green (24) | Bradley (24)
SF: LeBron (32) | Kuzma (16)
PF: Davis (32) | Kuzma (16)
C : Howard (24) | McGee (24)

Playoffs
PG: Caruso (28) | KCP (20)
SG: Green (28) | Bradley (20)
SF: LeBron (40) | Kuzma (8)
PF: Davis (24) | Kuzma (24)
C : Howard (20) | Davis (16) | McGee (12)

[TKainZero]

I have to say, although it sucked kuzma didn’t go to the world championships, it’s good he doesn’t have the stink of a 7th place finish on him.

I still think about lebronze

[BigRedDog]

there's really no room for kuzma on this squad. I think he gets traded midseason for a PG which the lakers desperately need. Danny Green cant dribble a basketball so you really need a ball dominant guard next to him who isnt washed like rondo

Kuzma fits very well in the elite SF/PF rotation with AD and LeBron. That's going to be the drivetrain of this team, the unrelenting pressure of the SF/PF position on the opponent. Then they have two defensive Cs that get way above the rim. After that you have 2 guards that are spot-up shooters and 2 guards that can ball handle and make plays.

Regular Season
PG: KCP (24) | Caruso (24)
SG: Green (24) | Bradley (24)
SF: LeBron (32) | Kuzma (16)
PF: Davis (32) | Kuzma (16)
C : Howard (24) | McGee (24)

Playoffs
PG: Caruso (28) | KCP (20)
SG: Green (28) | Bradley (20)
SF: LeBron (40) | Kuzma (8)
PF: Davis (24) | Kuzma (24)
C : Howard (20) | Davis (16) | McGee (12)

Right but let's assume the Lakers prefer not to have any bad players playing in the postseason. That's 28 minutes of caruso and 20 minutes of bradley you need to eliminate. Maybe even 20 minutes of KCP too. Then you have to figure out how to get rid of most of Howard's 20 minutes of playing time too.

The obvious answer is to ship kuzma off for someone who can help this team. The problem as others have alluded to is his salary is too low.

[Penberthy]

there's really no room for kuzma on this squad. I think he gets traded midseason for a PG which the lakers desperately need. Danny Green cant dribble a basketball so you really need a ball dominant guard next to him who isnt washed like rondo

We have a guy on this team named Lebron. He likes to dribble and pass. The only thing we need out of what you are calling the "PG" position is someone who can hit wide open 3s and play D.

[stan francisco]

Very fair point. We could use a guard that can finish at the hoop and hit the 3 consistently. Not sure we have that in one guy.

Caruso and Green.

And AD, Kuz, LeBron makes it so that we don’t need a Kobe type SG. We need a true 3 and D shooting guard, a Ray Allen type pure shooting guard. Green, check.

The hell is Caruso going to do in comparison to an actual star guard, he's not even a starter or starter quality as much as we love him. Green is good but again, he;s also a role player. We may not need a Kobe Bryant but we could use a third option guard.

Depends on. If Bron plays point, Kuzma SF, Davis PF that should be enough. Fill in with Green, McGee. Who are you gonna leave open when you double AD?

LeBron’s defense is the only thing that worries me this season. That, health and Kawhi.

[Steelo Green]

Don’t see it with Kuzma but an Ariza type is what I see.

Beside Lebron and that’s an excellent player.

[BEazy]

All Star.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Looks like the ankle injury was real and not a cover for USNT to cut Kuz gently from the team. Lakers don’t think Kuz will make training camp on Saturday due to said ankle injury

[Landsberger]

Yup.... fake news on here about the ankle. Can’t have a guy some think we should trade for a 3rd string center making the US team

I’m wondering if this is related to the foot/ankle issue that lingered in the second half last year.

[zimpy27]

Looks like the ankle injury was real and not a cover for USNT to cut Kuz gently from the team. Lakers don’t think Kuz will make training camp on Saturday due to said ankle injury

Read on Twitter

Looks like a stress injury, not good. Should be back this year.

[LAKESHOW]

Well, i knew we shouldve went after mirotic. We are down another shooter.

[kobe808lak]

Yikes..

[stan francisco]

He has scheduled an MRI. Hoping it’s not a stress fracture.