For over two weeks, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been the subject of trade speculation given the fact they will not trade LeBron James or Anthony Davis anytime soon. Kuzma, among all of the pieces on the Lakers, is the youngest and most attractive asset to another team.
The most enticing name linked to Kuzma was Sacramento’s Bogdan Bogdanovic but that still remains to be a mystery as well. The only thing the Lakers can count on for sure between now and then is that they will play a back-to-back against two playoff-projected squads in Dallas and Oklahoma City. And with Dallas we will begin, specifically their engine Luka Doncic. Meanwhile, the Lakers may not even have to miss a game with Anthony Davis as his status for Friday remains up in the air.
LeBron James just passed Doncic in the All-Star voting but James is definitely doing more in a smaller usage rate. Doncic is currently posting a 37% usage rate, a mark higher than LeBron has ever had by nearly four percentage points.
Doncic will be the key for the Lakers defense, whether they have Anthony Davis or not. Avery Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green will likely be the ones who will face him on Friday on the ball.
With Davis still nursing his injury, whether he plays or not, the Lakers will need Kuzma to deliver some strong play to knock off a couple of teams primed to make the postseason in the West.
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