NBA Trade Rumors: Kyle Kuzma Not Going Anywhere If Lakers Don't Get Good Assets

KEY POINTS

There are mixed reports on whether Kyle Kuzma is available for trade or not
Kuzma may only be traded away if the Lakers are satisfied with the assets on the table
Pelicans could make sense but who do they offer for Kuzma

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka once said that he would be open to making roster improvements if deals are on the table. One player that has made NBA trade rumors is Kyle Kuzma, the lone remnant of the team's young core in the past years. But it appears this is not 100-percent accurate.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN's Hoop Collective revealed that he has received mixed reports on the status of the 24-year-old forward. Kuzma is the Lakers' best asset but later on adds that Los Angeles has indicated that it does not want to trade him. Could it be possible that the 6-foot-8 player is just caught in trade talks to see if other teams will offer good assets in exchange?

In a previous report, it was mentioned how Pelinka is open to making improvements to boost the Lakers bid for an NBA title. Kuzma started the 2019-20 NBA season slow mainly because he was saddled by an injury last summer. Though he has been a far cry from the same promising player saw last season, it remains that Kuzma is a player that the Lakers can develop into a star in the right direction.

However, it is also no secret that the Lakers are aching for redemption. After years of failing to make the NBA postseason, the purple and gold are in a fine position to finally win another title. Despite the presence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, considering the addition of a third superstar has been discussed. The Lakers do have a fine mix of veterans to help out James and Davis.

If the Lakers add that third superstar, their chances of making it out of the competitive Western Division conference would be better. Ironically, Kuzma was being groomed to be that star before the current NBA season but there were plenty of hurdles that came into play.

There are several teams that could trade for Kuzma. One team could be the New Orleans Pelicans, the same team the Lakers dealt with in the Anthony Davis trade. Most of the Lakers' former young stars are there with Brandon Ingram coming out of his shell. If the Pels are indeed interested, who will they offer in exchange for the 27th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft?