The Lakers are apparently “listening to offers” for Kyle Kuzma. The Kings are apparently willing to include Bogdan Bogdanović to get Kuzma. I played around with ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine and got some successful trades. Kuzma (with Cook and Daniels to match salaries) for Bogdanović works. I did one with the Grizzlies as a third team which also works, more on them later.
I was curious after reading the rumors today. I don’t know a lot about Bogdanović except that he smoked the Lakers last season. Why would either team do this trade?
Kings: Bogdanović will be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Kings may not want to pay him. They should, but you know, the Kings gonna King. Anyway, Kuzma is three years younger and won’t be a restricted free agent until the summer of 2021. He’s only owed $3.6 million next season. Either way, his cap hold and raise would be lower than Bogdanović. Also, Luke Walton is high on Kuzma.
Lakers: Kuzma is good but maybe not for this particular team, trying to win a championship this year. Bogdanović is better right now and would give the Lakers some much needed shooting. He apparently doesn’t like coming off the bench for the Kings, but maybe he will on a title contender especially if given what was supposed to be Kuzma’s role of being the primary option of the second unit.
I mentioned the Grizzlies earlier because the Lakers still want Andre Iguodala but have no way of acquiring him via trade since the Grizzlies weirdly still want a first-round pick. To get the Kuzma deal done, the Kings could throw in a (heavily protected) first round pick. The Lakers don’t care about the pick so whether in the same Kuzma-Bogdanović transaction or a separate one, the Kings protected pick would get sent to the Grizzlies which in a wink-wink deal would agree to buy out Iguodala now instead of after the trade deadline with the understanding that he will join the Lakers. The Grizzlies technically get their first round pick, and the Lakers get their man a little earlier. It’d be funny if he ended up joining the Clippers anyway.
Ultimately, the Lakers could end up with Bogdan Bogdanović and Andre Iguodala (and Darren Collison) within a month. I don’t know if I’d do the above mentioned deal(s). I’m high on Kuzma, and this would effectively leave the Lakers with no future assets. Then again, hopefully improving the roster is the exact reason teams have assets. It’d be the epitome of going all-in.
I think a great need for the Lakers is a backup point guard and a wing defender. Bogan Bogdanovich somewhat helps with the playmaking but it would be a weird fit position wise. The most basic deal to bring over Bogan is Cook and Kuzma and the Kings throw in a draft pick.
We would have Bradley, Green, LeBron, AD, McGee and off the bench. Rondo, Caruso, Bogan, Dudley and then Howard with Daniels and other pieces.
I think if Collison doesn't sign with the Lakers then DRose is probably the best option. Detroit has said that they are shopping around Drummond and if they are going to rebuild then maybe DRose can come to the Lakers and provide scoring and playmaking off the bench. Then we would only need a wing defender. Maybe a 3 team trade with the Lakers, Detroit and Memphis/ Team which has our preferred wing defender will work.
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