The Hypothetical Trade Proposal
Lakers Receive: Derrick White, 2021 second-round draft pick
Spurs Receive: Kyle Kuzma
For the Spurs, this trade gives them a chance to open up playing time in their back-court. There is a bit of a logjam there when the team is healthy, so balancing out the roster this offseason makes sense.
With DeMar DeRozan possibly moving on in free agency and Rudy Gay also hitting free agency, San Antonio also needs help on the wing. Kuzma could help fill that void at the forward position given his scoring prowess.
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis both in town, Kyle Kuzma saw his minutes and opportunities dwindle, but when given the chance, he did make the most of it. In 32 games as a starter this past season, Kuzma averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 32.9 minutes per game.
That scoring ability is what the Spurs would be relying on Kuzma to bring to the table if DeRozan and Gay both move on this offseason. The playmaking flashes also give San Antonio some hope that he can initiate some offense in the same way that DeRozan did during the 2020-21 season.
Kuzma is a logical target for the Spurs, but how does this trade help the Lakers? Let’s take a look into why this deal makes sense for them.