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Los Angeles Lakers: How LA should divide minutes on the bench

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after they defeated the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after they defeated the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Kyle Kuzma: 30 minutes

SIgning LeBron James practically forced Kyle Kuzma to move to the bench to be the Los Angeles Lakers sixth man this season. That is ok, though, as Kuzma will make a great sixth man and could be one of the best sixth men in the entire league.

LeBron is set to play power forward with Brandon Ingram playing small forward. That leaves no room for Kuzma, who theoretically could start at center, although that will not happen. While he may see time at the center position off the bench, the starting nod will go to JaVale McGee.

However, Kuzma will likely see time anywhere from the three to the five. Subbing him on for McGee late in games is the obvious go-to move while he also supplies both Brandon Ingram and LeBron James some relief off the bench.

Having a great asset off the bench is a huge thing for an NBA team to have and Kuzma is likely going to have a role similar to Andre Iguodala. While the two players are vastly different in skill set and what they are valuable for, Iguodala was always (before DeMarcus Cousins) the fifth-best guy on the Warriors yet he would still mostly come off the bench.

Kuzma is going to be just fine in this role. He averaged 31.2 minutes per game last season and when it is all said and done will average a very similar number this year. Expect yet another productive year from Kyle Kuzma as the Lakers’ sixth man.

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