The Los Angeles Lakers are one of a few teams that have expressed interest in trading for Derrick Rose, according to Yahoo Sports. If L.A. hopes to complete a deal with the Detroit Pistons, one specific player would almost certainly have to be involved.

It’s hard to imagine the Lakers acquiring Rose without giving up Kyle Kuzma. The forward is Los Angeles’ best asset, aside from LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The two superstars, of course, won’t be traded.

Kuzma has been in trade rumors since last year when the Lakers tried to pry Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. Los Angeles managed to land the superstar while holding onto the 24-year-old, but they gave up just about every other valuable trade asset they possessed.

Because of the various draft picks the Lakers sent to the Pelicans, Los Angeles isn’t allowed to trade another first-rounder until the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Pistons are 12 games under .500 and three games behind the Brooklyn Nets for the East’s final playoff spot. Giving up Rose, one of Detroit’s most productive players on a very reasonable contract, would only make sense if the Pistons received a combination of valuable drafts picks and promising young players.

Kuzma is averaging 13.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. Those numbers are a noticeable dip from the 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds he averaged in 33.1 minutes as a second-year player.

The addition of Davis has limited Kuzma’s role on the team, though trading Kuzma for an aging sixth man can’t be what Los Angeles had in mind when the roster was constructed.

Rose, 31, signed a two-year, $15 million contract in the offseason. He leads Detroit with 18.4 points and 5.8 assists per game, as well as a 22.08 PER. The point guard is shooting a career-high 49.8 percent from the field.

Kuzma and Quinn Cook for Rose works under the salary cap restrictions. Maybe the Lakers would look to include DeMarcus Cousins in a trade. The big man might miss the whole season with a torn ACL, but his $3.5 million salary could be included to complete a trade.

Perhaps Los Angeles would be willing to trade Kuzma if it meant acquiring Rose and another player. Markieff Morris makes even less money than Rose and is averaging 11.1 points per game.

The Lakers could use another playmaker in their quest to win their first championship in 10 years. Los Angeles is the No.1 seed in the West with a four-game lead over the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.

James leads the league with 10.9 assists per game. Rajon Rondo is second on the team with 5.4 assists per contest.

The Philadelphia 76ers are also reportedly interested in trading for Rose.

Kyle Kuzma
In this picture, Kyle Kuzma #0, and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on December 18, 2018 in New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
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