Things change quickly in the National Basketball Association and only a few days after it looked like Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma wouldn’t be going anywhere, reports suggest the Lakers are indeed taking calls with potential trade partners on a move involving their third-year forward.
The Sacramento Kings are one of the teams reportedly interested in Kuzma and they are going into negotiations knowing they will likely have to part ways with wing Bogdan Bogdanovic, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. Bogdanovic is averaging 14 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 38.8% from the 3-point line on 6.9 attempts per game.
Sacramento is among the teams that has tried to engage the Lakers in Kyle Kuzma trade talks, league sources say. The Kings know they would have to include sharpshooter (and soon-to-be restricted free agent) Bogdan Bogdanovic, for starters, in a Kuzma deal
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 6, 2020
Bogdanovic is not as well-known to casual fans as Kuzma, but he would be a major upgrade for the Lakers in several areas. The first is on the wing, where Bogdanovic would add much-needed playmaking chops and 3-point shooting. Bogdanovic doesn’t have the reputation Kuzma does as a scorer but he’s a much more accomplished outside shooter as he is shooting just under 38% for his career from the 3-point line compared to just under 34% for Kuzma.
Among the players currently on the roster, Bogdanovic would trail only LeBron James in his ability to create with the ball in his hands. Considering the struggles the second unit for the Lakers have had lately with Rajon Rondo running the show, Bogdanovic would be a massive upgrade as soon as he shows up.
As for the Kings, they have committed to players on the wing long-term in Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, meaning they likely don’t see Bogdanovic as part of their future.
Although Kuzma is a very talented player, the fact that he plays the same position as Anthony Davis and is a player other teams want ultimately makes him expendable. Considering the very real needs the Lakers have elsewhere, a move involving Kuzma for a player of Bogdanovic’s caliber would make a lot of sense for L.A. With only a month to go until the trade deadline, Sacramento likely won’t be the only one to try and pry Kuzma from the Lakers.
But if the Lakers are able to turn Kuzma into Bogdanovic, the rest of the NBA will likely be steaming mad.
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