KEY POINTS

  • Kyle Kuzma may move on to follow in the footsteps of Julius Randle and others
  • Kemba Walker is seen as a good fit for the Lakers
  • The Thunder are not expected to keep Walker for long

The Los Angeles Lakers will shake up things, and one casualty most see is Kyle Kuzma.

After four years with the franchise, the 25-year-old has had an erratic run as a Laker.

But if the ex-NBA champion wants to blossom, heading out and joining another team where he could get more playing time may be best.

The Lakers know they need another superstar, a veteran to combine with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Kemba Walker was recently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford, but pundits feel that this may not be his final stop.

Most know that the Thunder prefer to invest and focus on youth, making a Kyle Kuzma trade plausible. It appears this is what NBA Insider Marc Spears was pointing it to when he appeared on “The Jump.”

“Man, I can’t see Kemba playing there. If I’m the Lakers, man, why not try to go after Kemba. To me, it makes a lot of sense. Kuzma already looks like he’s on his way out,” Spears said on the show.

The Lakers need to move some players if they want to bounce back next NBA season.

But with no financial flexibility because of high salaries to James and Davis, giving up some players in trade deals would be needed.

Aside from Kuzma, other names that could be moved include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso.

Kemba Walker of the Boston Celtics shoots against Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game Four
Kemba Walker of the Boston Celtics shoots against Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game Four GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / POOL

For Kuzma, it appears he is aware that the only way for him to take his career to the next level is to do that with another team.

Lots of former Lakers have done that and most have become legitimate superstars. That list includes 2021 NBA Most Improved Player Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson.

Last season, Kuzma averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. They are fairly similar to his numbers in the previous season but far from his career averages of 18.7 points per game during the 2018-19 season.

Meanwhile, adding Walker would be a big boost to the Lakers if they can get it done.

Walker is owed roughly $73 million for two more years and owns a player option in 2022.

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