NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Could Potentially Place Trade Package For Spurs Point Guard

The Los Angeles Lakers were looking to defend their title this season, but after suffering injuries in their first-round playoff series with eventual Western Conference champions Phoenix Suns, they went on vacation earlier than they would have wanted to.

Four-time Finals MVP LeBron James was hobbled with injury as he suffered a high-ankle sprain through much of the latter part of the season, while co-star Anthony Davis suffered a groin strain that effectively took him out of the series.

The Lakers were expecting to get some help from the rest of the team as their two best players battled through health issues.

None of them stepped up.

From starting point guard Dennis Schroder to bench players Talen Horton-Tucker, no one was able to help carry the load that James and Davis were handling at the time.

Kyle Kuzma himself wasn’t a factor.

Kuzma was a member of the All-Rookie First-Team for the 2017-18 season, and he was a crucial part of the Lakers’ run to their 17th NBA title as they knocked off the Miami Heat in six games.

But with him being a non-factor in this year’s postseason, trade rumors have since hounded Kuzma.

Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reports that “Los Angeles continues to gauge rival teams’ interest” in Kuzma since he has the most trade value among the seven players under contract.

The problem is that most of the Lakers’ salaries are tied to James and Davis plus they gave up a ton of assets to acquire the latter from the New Orleans Pelicans.

CBS Sports reports that the Lakers are in need of a dependable playmaker and shooter , two of Kuzma’s biggest weaknesses, but their biggest problem is at center.

Marc Gasol is past his prime, Andre Drummond is a black hole on offense, and Montrezl Harrell has shown frustration with his role in Los Angeles.

“The King” is not getting younger any time soon and "Father Time" is starting to rear its head, so the Lakers will need to address these concerns sooner than possible.

Kuzma’s dismal performance has cratered his trade value, but the 25-year-old forward has full confidence in himself that he still has All-Star potential.

However, it might be best for his career to move away from the bright lights of Los Angeles.

A move to the Indiana Pacers or San Antonio Spurs would do wonders for his career, with the Spurs being the most logical of them as DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay are set to hit free agency.

The Spurs will most likely offer Derrick White to the Lakers for Kuzma and a pick as it will clear a ton of minutes in the San Antonio backcourt and Kuzma will look to fill in the hole that DeRozan and Gay will leave if they go elsewhere.