Official Trade Thread - Part XLI

[payitforward]

The only trade scenarios I see in the short term would be one sending either Kuzma or Bertans away for cap space. I suppose Kuzma might have some value at the moment, so if we can dump him to say, Minnesota, and get some 2nd round picks in the process, I'd be open minded. But other than that, I'd probably sit tight on trades for now.

Bertans' trade value is low because of his subpar season. The best scenario might be to showcase him early in the year while Kispert is buried on the bench. Then hopefully Bertans can be moved for expirings and 2nds, and then we can move Kispert into the rotation.

I think it would be a mistake to trade anyone right now. They finally have depth with a lot of solid pieces. Start the season, see which player meshes with the core, and only then trade whoever you feel does not fit the mold. We can assume which player is better on paper, but until they all play together it'd be premature to trade a piece which can help them in the future.

Generally speaking, the only time to trade guys for cap space is in the offseason. It costs picks to unload salary midseason. So if a good Kuzma deal is available now, take it. It is unlikely that such a deal would be available at the Trade Deadline.

Agreed!

Especially Bertans, but if there's a good offer for Kuzma or Harrell -- or even for KCP -- take it! Especially if it helps us refuel with picks. This team is not going to contend for a title, which means it has to keep adding young talent.

[payitforward]

I'd hardly call getting a 2nd round pick a "good deal". Not so long ago, Laker fans were hailing Kuzma as their savior. If he somehow regains his former form, they may have gotten a steal.

Huh?

1. The best I ever heard about Kuzma was that he was plus value for a guy picked low. That was mostly off of his first Summer League stint. I certainly don't think anyone ever thought of him as a "savior."

2. As to regaining "his former form," that's about the last thing we should want! His most recent season, though below average overall, was his best season by quite a bit.

So... yeah, a high R2 pick would be a terrific deal for Kuzma. If the Knicks would give us McBride (just taken #36) for Kuzma straight up, I'd take it happily & never look back.

[payitforward]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

[nate33]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

Kuzma has been better than #28, Tony Bradley. But I agree with the rest of this.

[Ruzious]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

The guy taken 15th in the 1996 draft (now coaching Brooklyn) was bad in his 1st 2 seasons, terrible in his 3rd season, and then took a step forward in his 4th season even though he still averaged just 8.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 2.2 rebounds playing 27.4 minutes a game.

[nate33]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

Kuzma has been better than #28, Tony Bradley. But I agree with the rest of this.

Man, looking back, that was an incredibly deep draft. It wasn't particularly strong at the top, but it was full of starters and rotation caliber players:

All-NBA caliber talent:
Tatum

All-Star caliber talent
Mitchell
Adebayo
Fox

Good starters:
Allen
Anunoby
Ball
Issac
D. White
Markkanen
Hart
Collins
Brooks

Weak starters/6th men
Kuzma
M.Morris
Kennard
Bryant
Fultz

Rotation-worthy
J.Jackson
Dotson
Monk
Bacon
Sterling Brown
Ntilikina
Ojeleye
Collins
Bradley

That's a lot of NBA players in one draft!

[DCZards]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

Kuzma has been better than 5 or 6 of the players taken 1-26.

[gambitx777]

Just for clarity:

Kuzma was bad his rookie year, worse his second year, absolutely horrible his third year.

Then this last year he was much better than he'd ever been before. Not straight-out "good," don't get me wrong -- but better than he'd ever been all the same.

Kuzma was taken #27 in the 2017 draft. The 3 guys taken directly after him have all been far better than he. The guy taken 15 picks later has been hugely enormously better than Kuzma. So too the guy taken 24 picks after Kuzma.

Kuzma has been better than 5 or 6 of the players taken 1-26.

I would say Kuz has been better than 12-13 of the players taken before him with 2-4 being about even.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Gig18]

You guys know more than me, but I cringe when I see "bad, worse, horrible" for a guy who was a contributor. Kuz has a rep for dumb play, but heck, he was scoring and contributing to the Lakers as a rookie and as a second-year guy.
Contrast that to Otto Porter's first 2 years with us.
we'll see if he plays for us ...

[penbeast0]

Generally speaking, the only time to trade guys for cap space is in the offseason. It costs picks to unload salary midseason. So if a good Kuzma deal is available now, take it. It is unlikely that such a deal would be available at the Trade Deadline.

If there's a good deal for any of Hachimura, Bertans, Kuzma, or Harrell that reflects their peak, healthy value, take it. But realistically, you wouldn't want to dump Rui for cap space and a 2nd. Which of the other 3 would you dump for partial (not full) salary relief and a 2nd?

I'd dump Bertans or Kuzma for a late 1st/high 2nd and an expiring contract. I don't think Bertans would generate such an offer at the moment, but Kuzma might.

But not Harrell? Montrezl is worth more? Do you play him at the 4?

[nate33]

If there's a good deal for any of Hachimura, Bertans, Kuzma, or Harrell that reflects their peak, healthy value, take it. But realistically, you wouldn't want to dump Rui for cap space and a 2nd. Which of the other 3 would you dump for partial (not full) salary relief and a 2nd?

I'd dump Bertans or Kuzma for a late 1st/high 2nd and an expiring contract. I don't think Bertans would generate such an offer at the moment, but Kuzma might.

But not Harrell? Montrezl is worth more? Do you play him at the 4?

There is less redundancy with Harrell. I actually want to play Harrell during the first couple of months of the season while Bryant is rehabbing. I would look to move Harrell at the Deadline if we can get any assets for him.

Also, Harrell's intensity will probably be an asset in the locker room.

[WallStar]

I'd hardly call getting a 2nd round pick a "good deal". Not so long ago, Laker fans were hailing Kuzma as their savior. If he somehow regains his former form, they may have gotten a steal.

Huh?

1. The best I ever heard about Kuzma was that he was plus value for a guy picked low. That was mostly off of his first Summer League stint. I certainly don't think anyone ever thought of him as a "savior."

2. As to regaining "his former form," that's about the last thing we should want! His most recent season, though below average overall, was his best season by quite a bit.

So... yeah, a high R2 pick would be a terrific deal for Kuzma. If the Knicks would give us McBride (just taken #36) for Kuzma straight up, I'd take it happily & never look back.

In Kuz's second season, he was one of the top go-to options and averaged 18.7ppg. Not too shabby for a sophomore. If memory serves, that's when the fans were hyping him. Once Davis joined, Kyle became an afterthought and subsequently his development regressed.

IMO, Kuz compares to Ingram in that their stats in LA were similar. I'd go as far as to say if Kuz is given the same opportunity to be the team's first/second scoring option, he'd develop into an Ingram type of player.

Saying he's worth no more than an early second, is underselling his potential, IMO.

[Ruzious]

I'd hardly call getting a 2nd round pick a "good deal". Not so long ago, Laker fans were hailing Kuzma as their savior. If he somehow regains his former form, they may have gotten a steal.

Huh?

1. The best I ever heard about Kuzma was that he was plus value for a guy picked low. That was mostly off of his first Summer League stint. I certainly don't think anyone ever thought of him as a "savior."

2. As to regaining "his former form," that's about the last thing we should want! His most recent season, though below average overall, was his best season by quite a bit.

So... yeah, a high R2 pick would be a terrific deal for Kuzma. If the Knicks would give us McBride (just taken #36) for Kuzma straight up, I'd take it happily & never look back.

In Kuz's second season, he was one of the top go-to options and averaged 18.7ppg. Not too shabby for a sophomore. If memory serves, that's when the fans were hyping him. Once Davis joined, Kyle became an afterthought and subsequently his development regressed.

IMO, Kuz compares to Ingram in that their stats in LA were similar. I'd go as far as to say if Kuz is given the same opportunity to be the team's first/second scoring option, he'd develop into an Ingram type of player.

Saying he's worth no more than an early second, is underselling his potential, IMO.

It's a real stretch to make that comp to Ingram. Ingram at 23 is a much better player than Kuzma at 26, and it's mainly because Ingram's simply more talented. That's not to say that Kuzma can't become a very good player. He's certainly got good ability.

[dcstanley]

I'd hardly call getting a 2nd round pick a "good deal". Not so long ago, Laker fans were hailing Kuzma as their savior. If he somehow regains his former form, they may have gotten a steal.

Huh?

1. The best I ever heard about Kuzma was that he was plus value for a guy picked low. That was mostly off of his first Summer League stint. I certainly don't think anyone ever thought of him as a "savior."

2. As to regaining "his former form," that's about the last thing we should want! His most recent season, though below average overall, was his best season by quite a bit.

So... yeah, a high R2 pick would be a terrific deal for Kuzma. If the Knicks would give us McBride (just taken #36) for Kuzma straight up, I'd take it happily & never look back.

As someone that watches the Lakers very closely, I think Kuzma is a solid rotational piece. He shot the ball well last season and was a plus defender in Vogel's system. I would trade him for a late first but I think there's a chance he provides more value than Harrell.

[WallStar]

Huh?

1. The best I ever heard about Kuzma was that he was plus value for a guy picked low. That was mostly off of his first Summer League stint. I certainly don't think anyone ever thought of him as a "savior."

2. As to regaining "his former form," that's about the last thing we should want! His most recent season, though below average overall, was his best season by quite a bit.

So... yeah, a high R2 pick would be a terrific deal for Kuzma. If the Knicks would give us McBride (just taken #36) for Kuzma straight up, I'd take it happily & never look back.

In Kuz's second season, he was one of the top go-to options and averaged 18.7ppg. Not too shabby for a sophomore. If memory serves, that's when the fans were hyping him. Once Davis joined, Kyle became an afterthought and subsequently his development regressed.

IMO, Kuz compares to Ingram in that their stats in LA were similar. I'd go as far as to say if Kuz is given the same opportunity to be the team's first/second scoring option, he'd develop into an Ingram type of player.

Saying he's worth no more than an early second, is underselling his potential, IMO.

It's a real stretch to make that comp to Ingram. Ingram at 23 is a much better player than Kuzma at 26, and it's mainly because Ingram's simply more talented. That's not to say that Kuzma can't become a very good player. He's certainly got good ability.

This was more so in comparison to their stats, and the potential to develop into a high efficiency player. But I absolutely agree that Ingram is a better overall talent.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Seems to me we've addressed PG... Dimwit, Holidays, Neato, plus Winston.

Trade target should be a SG for one of these PF to balance the roster, someone who can provide Beal some rest now and then... I'd say for Kuzma or Bertans most likely.

What about Bertans or Kuzma for Beal's best buddy Temple?

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Someone like Josh Richardson would be a good target.

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7463366

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I don't know.... I guess KCP can play the 2. So can Neato. Dimwit has size and can play with either Neato or Holidays at point.

Do you guys think Kispert can get some pt at SG?

[WallStar]

Seems to me we've addressed PG... Dimwit, Holidays, Neato, plus Winston.

Trade target should be a SG for one of these PF to balance the roster, someone who can provide Beal some rest now and then... I'd say for Kuzma or Bertans most likely.

What about Bertans or Kuzma for Beal's best buddy Temple?

I'd say KCP is a pretty good backup option.

[Ruzious]

Someone like Josh Richardson would be a good target.

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7463366

I think Boston targeted Richardson in large part because he has an expiring contract. They're trying to accumulate space to acquire a free agent next offseason, someone like... Bradley Beal. Boston's his 4th team in 4 years.