Los Angeles Lakers: There should be no hesitation in dealing Kyle Kuzma

The Los Angeles Lakers potentially trading for Anthony Davis is getting more real by the minute, although there is a hiccup to get over in Kyle Kuzma.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have struck out on Anthony Davis during the regular season but all signs have been pointing to the team actually getting a deal done in the not-so-distant future.

Countless reports have surfaced regarding the Pelicans asking price for Davis and who the potential suitors are. Right now, all reports indicate that the Lakers are the frontrunners, although the Boston Celtics have recently joined the fray.

Trade talks actually seem to be progressing as well, something that cannot be said for the same trade discussions during the season. All signs are pointing to the two sides including a third team in the trade as well to potentially give New Orleans an established star, something the Lakers cannot offer.

One hang up in the entire process has been the Los Angeles Lakers’ willingness to trade Kyle Kuzma, despite Kuzma arguably being the least valuable alongside Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram.

I get the logic of not wanting to include all three. If the Lakers are already willing to trade both Ingram and Ball, it makes sense to want to hang onto one piece of the young core.

The problem here is not that the Lakers want to keep Kuzma over Ball and Ingram, it is that they know Ball and Ingram have more value and are hoping to hang on to Kuzma. I get that logic and if the Lakers can manage to pull that off then great. However, if the Lakers don’t trade for Davis because of Kuzma, it will be a massive mistake.

Kuzma is a good player but he does not have the massive potential that the other guys have. Sure, it would suck to see him go, but the upgrade to Davis is still huge.

Think of it this way: Anthony Davis is only two and a half years older than Kyle Kuzma and has already reached an echelon that Kuzma will never reach. This is not trading for someone that is in the end of their prime, Davis is just beginning his prime.

And plus, if we want to look at it in a positive light, this would free up more salary cap space for the Lakers to go after a second star, such as Kyrie Irving. While numbers-wise the Lakers would be “losing” one player, the talent upgrade would be immense.

Irving just turned 27 years old, so even he has not hit his prime in the league yet.

If the Lakers can keep Kuzma and get Davis then great, more power to them. If they can include Kuzma and Ball or Ingram then fantastic, that would be the best-case scenario.

But not getting a deal done because the team does not want to part ways with Kuzma? That would be unacceptable.