The Kuzma Thread

[myersia]

It’s been debated, he has been talked about by all of us I feel like this should be a thread given that I’m sure his name will be brought up near the trade deadline. I love Kuz as a person. At times I love him on the court. However I feel like our window is now and we gotta go for it all this year. Especially to keep AD. If we could land a young defensive pg who can shoot and has playmaking ability we have to do it. Kuz is also going to want to get paid next offseason. He hasn’t played his way to a contract yet. Trade kuzma or keep him? Right now I’d trade him. Jrue Holiday would be nice but I’m sure Griffin doesn’t want anymore lakers lol and numbers probably don’t work either.

[Dr Aki]

Cook Cousins Kuzma for DRose and Markieff

[SlimShady83]

[Kilroy]

IDK... I find myself real reluctant to trade Cousins at this point... It's stupid and pure emotion... But the way he's acting right now, I think he's looking to be here long term... He could be next year's Dwight...

[BEazy]

Kuzma's contract is not going to net us anything significant. We'll have to add players in order to get something of value back.

[Landsberger]

IDK... I find myself real reluctant to trade Cousins at this point... It's stupid and pure emotion... But the way he's acting right now, I think he's looking to be here long term... He could be next year's Dwight...

This clown knows his only chance to make any money (that he'll blow within 5 years of leaving the game) is in LA....Otherwise it will be on non-guaranteed vet min deals. That's why he's acting like he wants to be here. I've never seen anything in this guys entire career to tell me that he actually cares about anything but himself.

[Landsberger]

Kuzma hasn't been healthy since last February it seems. With his $1.9M salary this year on top of the injury I'd say centering a deal on him to get anyone as good as he can be healthy is a pretty big leap.

He's yet to be comfortable in our system nor healthy this year. I'm willing to wait a little longer to see if he can find a way to mesh with this team. I also disagree with the idea that we need 3 point shooting or a "true PG". I think this team has shown that you don't need to "rely" on the 3 to win games and we've won a lot of them. Also, I think those who advocate for more 3 point shooting are ignoring the guys we have who are above average 3 point shooters.

As for the ball handling PG.... why would you take the ball out of LeBron's hands? He's near MVP level and leading the league in assists? A LeBron led team doesn't need a traditional PG and Bradley is very good at defending the perimeter.

What we are missing is a 3rd scorer. One who can get points in bunches. While Kuz hasn't shown that yet this year I'm not thinking one is on the market for him, a broken down malcontent and a borderline NBA guard.

[One Love]

Kuzz at $2.0 million is huge for our payroll... He won’t get paid until after next season... Look how small we were with AD out... LBJ & Rondo got PG locked down... Hang onto Kuzz...

Cousins seems to be supportive on the bench... He may be our 3rd scorer in playoffs or next season...

Lakeshow Baby...

[Beethoven]

^ if he works hard enough, the team may end up being his. Cousins as the main dominant scorer and Lebron facilitating . AD may have to come off bench. kidding.

[I_Love_This_Game!!]

I think it makes sense to trade Kuzma because he plays the same position as AD. So, realistically, he'll play 10 minutes per game at his natural position and another 15-20 out of position.

Here's the trade I would like to see...

BRK trades / LAL receives: Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler
LAL trades / BRK receives: Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso

Brooklyn is light at PF. Kuzma would fit in perfectly between Durant and Allen / Jordan. And, he is cost controlled for another year. KCP would help shore up their wing positions. Caruso would backup Irving.

The Lakers acquire an excellent starting PG in Dinwiddie. Chandler would play PF 10 minutes per night.

[Landsberger]

I think it makes sense to trade Kuzma because he plays the same position as AD. So, realistically, he'll play 10 minutes per game at his natural position and another 15-20 out of position.

Here's the trade I would like to see...

BRK trades / LAL receives: Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler
LAL trades / BRK receives: Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso

Brooklyn is light at PF. Kuzma would fit in perfectly between Durant and Allen / Jordan. And, he is cost controlled for another year. KCP would help shore up their wing positions. Caruso would backup Irving.

The Lakers acquire an excellent starting PG in Dinwiddie. Chandler would play PF 10 minutes per night.

Oh....man.. you better duck. Putting Caruso in even a fan forum trade deal is complete lunacy. Get prepared for quotes like "he's better than Dinwiddie straight up" and such....

[Beethoven]

TRADE CARUSO??? GET THE ROPE FELLAS

[lakerz12]

Kuzma is really disappointing me. I had high hopes for him this season and he can't seem to get or stay healthy. Dare I say those Puma low top/mid tops are not doing him any favors.

At some point I can't keep making excuses for this guy. Not that my personal opinion is important, but as one fan of the Lakers, I'm ready to cut bait with this guy if he doesn't start producing soon.

[Landsberger]

^^ I felt the same way about LeBron last January.....

[lakerz12]

^^ I felt the same way about LeBron last January.....

The difference is obviously that we know LeBron is capable of being a top 5 player. And he's a proven winner, MVP, Final's MVP, etc. etc.

We don't know if Kuzma will ever make a leap to All Star level or just fizzle out and remain a mediocre role player.

Add the health problem to that uncertainty and it makes him droppable. I still hope he turns it around, I'm just losing confidence.

[Landsberger]

^^ I felt the same way about LeBron last January.....

The difference is obviously that we know LeBron is capable of being a top 5 player. And he's a proven winner, MVP, Final's MVP, etc. etc.

We don't know if Kuzma will ever make a leap to All Star level or just fizzle out and remain a mediocre role player.

Add the health problem to that uncertainty and it makes him droppable. I still hope he turns it around, I'm just losing confidence.

And I was completely joking.... He's been injured and is in a totally foreign system with no camp to prepare. I'll give him a month or two after he's fully healthy before I'd say it's time to go. He's not adjusted well at this point but we know there is a fairly efficient scorer in there and the defense/rebounding etc. isn't as bad (or even bad at all) as many make it out to be.

At $1.9M this year we'd have to give up a lot more than just him to get anything potentially as good. He'd be much more valuable at the draft as a trade piece when his value goes up dramatically.

[lakerz12]

^^ I felt the same way about LeBron last January.....

The difference is obviously that we know LeBron is capable of being a top 5 player. And he's a proven winner, MVP, Final's MVP, etc. etc.

We don't know if Kuzma will ever make a leap to All Star level or just fizzle out and remain a mediocre role player.

Add the health problem to that uncertainty and it makes him droppable. I still hope he turns it around, I'm just losing confidence.

And I was completely joking.... He's been injured and is in a totally foreign system with no camp to prepare. I'll give him a month or two after he's fully healthy before I'd say it's time to go. He's not adjusted well at this point but we know there is a fairly efficient scorer in there and the defense/rebounding etc. isn't as bad (or even bad at all) as many make it out to be.

At $1.9M this year we'd have to give up a lot more than just him to get anything potentially as good. He'd be much more valuable at the draft as a trade piece when his value goes up dramatically.

Yeah I agree. I definitely don't think the Lakers should trade him anytime soon.

My thoughts were more-so that I had high hopes of him being the Lakers' "3rd star" or at least a good 3rd offensive option coming into this year.

Now my expectations are more like, will he even get healthy and help at all?

[Landsberger]

The difference is obviously that we know LeBron is capable of being a top 5 player. And he's a proven winner, MVP, Final's MVP, etc. etc.

We don't know if Kuzma will ever make a leap to All Star level or just fizzle out and remain a mediocre role player.

Add the health problem to that uncertainty and it makes him droppable. I still hope he turns it around, I'm just losing confidence.

And I was completely joking.... He's been injured and is in a totally foreign system with no camp to prepare. I'll give him a month or two after he's fully healthy before I'd say it's time to go. He's not adjusted well at this point but we know there is a fairly efficient scorer in there and the defense/rebounding etc. isn't as bad (or even bad at all) as many make it out to be.

At $1.9M this year we'd have to give up a lot more than just him to get anything potentially as good. He'd be much more valuable at the draft as a trade piece when his value goes up dramatically.

Yeah I agree. I definitely don't think the Lakers should trade him anytime soon.

My thoughts were more-so that I had high hopes of him being the Lakers' "3rd star" or at least a good 3rd offensive option coming into this year.

Now my expectations are more like, will he even get healthy and help at all?

It's a long season. I'm disappointed as well but he's had little chance to really get some consistency with this team.

I'm still wondering if this is the same injury that slowed him down the second half last year and has never really healed.

[Rakkasan]

Kuzma hasn't been healthy since last February it seems. With his $1.9M salary this year on top of the injury I'd say centering a deal on him to get anyone as good as he can be healthy is a pretty big leap.

He's yet to be comfortable in our system nor healthy this year. I'm willing to wait a little longer to see if he can find a way to mesh with this team. I also disagree with the idea that we need 3 point shooting or a "true PG". I think this team has shown that you don't need to "rely" on the 3 to win games and we've won a lot of them. Also, I think those who advocate for more 3 point shooting are ignoring the guys we have who are above average 3 point shooters.

As for the ball handling PG.... why would you take the ball out of LeBron's hands? He's near MVP level and leading the league in assists? A LeBron led team doesn't need a traditional PG and Bradley is very good at defending the perimeter.

What we are missing is a 3rd scorer. One who can get points in bunches. While Kuz hasn't shown that yet this year I'm not thinking one is on the market for him, a broken down malcontent and a borderline NBA guard.

LeBron ain't what he used to be, he has no lift left and no go to move. Everytime he has the ball when the game is in the balance you can almost always depend on him to bail the other team out by shooting a stupid shot or making a stupid turnover. He gives me the same feeling I get whenever Kuzma gets the ball. He will get you stats because he dominates the ball, but what the Lakers need an experienced two way point guard who can guarantee the Lakers at least a shot at the basket late in games.

[NippySudz]

Kuzma hasn't been healthy since last February it seems. With his $1.9M salary this year on top of the injury I'd say centering a deal on him to get anyone as good as he can be healthy is a pretty big leap.

He's yet to be comfortable in our system nor healthy this year. I'm willing to wait a little longer to see if he can find a way to mesh with this team. I also disagree with the idea that we need 3 point shooting or a "true PG". I think this team has shown that you don't need to "rely" on the 3 to win games and we've won a lot of them. Also, I think those who advocate for more 3 point shooting are ignoring the guys we have who are above average 3 point shooters.

As for the ball handling PG.... why would you take the ball out of LeBron's hands? He's near MVP level and leading the league in assists? A LeBron led team doesn't need a traditional PG and Bradley is very good at defending the perimeter.

What we are missing is a 3rd scorer. One who can get points in bunches. While Kuz hasn't shown that yet this year I'm not thinking one is on the market for him, a broken down malcontent and a borderline NBA guard.

LeBron ain't what he used to be, he has no lift left and no go to move. Everytime he has the ball when the game is in the balance you can almost always depend on him to bail the other team out by shooting a stupid shot or making a stupid turnover. He gives me the same feeling I get whenever Kuzma gets the ball. He will get you stats because he dominates the ball, but what the Lakers need an experienced two way point guard who can guarantee the Lakers at least a shot at the basket late in games.

That is absurd.

Yes, he's old but to compare him to kuzma in any light is just ridiculous.

A) the Lakers would have reached the players last yr with no ad

B ) the Lakers offense runs so much better when he's on the court than off. He's not ballhawking like rondo dribbling the shot clock down for the perfect exists.

Ten assist a night. That's accounting for 20 pts minimum assisted. That's not even counting hockey asts.

Not to mention he'll even give up the ball to rondo to run a play.

The Lakers record is largely successful because of LeBron. If this was Jimmy butler and ad, it wouldn't look as good.

An old LeBron is still better than 90% of the league. He's not the best player anymore but he's still top five. Top 3 for me personally.

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