NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Sell Kyle Kuzma 'For Cheap' Under One Condition – Report

One scenario could see a Los Angeles Lakers star being traded this offseason.

After failing to defend their NBA title this season, the Lakers are likely to make certain changes in their roster. Among the names being mentioned in potential trade deal talks this offseason is Kyle Kuzma.

While Kuzma is still one of the Lakers’ most valuable players, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka might consider selling the forward “for cheap” in a “packaged” trade proposal aiming to pair LeBron James and Anthony Davis with a new co-star, according to NBA Analysis Network owner Evan Massey, who has been featured on ESPN, Fox Sports and Yahoo Sports. International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

“The Lakers are expected to look into trading Kyle Kuzma this NBA offseason,” Massey wrote.

“The Lakers have grown frustrated with (Kyle) Kuzma’s inconsistency and are going to look at trading him this offseason,” he added. “Rob Pelinka won’t move him for cheap, but if he can be packaged to add better talent around LeBron and AD, they will do that. Kuzma will be on the trade block this offseason and quite a few teams are expected to show interest.”

Prior to the postseason, Kuzma was averaging 13 points, six rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 44.3% from the floor, a record evidently better than his 2019-20 season stats.

However, Kuzma appeared to have lost his mojo as his presence was barely felt in the playoffs.

Addressing his “role” in the Lakers amid the Western Conference first-round duel against the Phoenix Suns, Kuzma stressed that he didn’t need to always try to score in order to help the team win.

“My role on this team is not necessarily scoring the ball,” Kuzma told reporters after a practice. “Obviously, if you look at it from an attempt standpoint, the ball hasn’t necessarily found me and that’s okay. I just have trust that it will eventually but my thing is obviously contributing on that defensive end, which I have been, and doing those little things to help us get wins — playing championship style basketball — and I’m okay with that.”

“Obviously it’s not ideal for me to go a game and shoot the game two or three times,” he added. “Just keeping it 100. I’ve just got to find ways. I’m constantly moving on the court and just trusting that the ball and that energy of moving is going to find me, whether that’s cutting to the middle of the rim, running the floor every time; and, in certain situations, being aggressive and making the right read.”