Los Angeles Lakers: Why LA was wrong in keeping Kyle Kuzma

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to teammate Kyle Kuzma #0 against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their NBA Basketball game at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2018 in Oakland, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to teammate Kyle Kuzma #0 against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their NBA Basketball game at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2018 in Oakland, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers were very insistent on keeping Kyle Kuzma in LA during the Anthony Davis trade talks, which may have been a mistake.

Kyle Kuzma is a very, very solid player that has a bright future in the NBA. He is one of the best sleeper draft picks of the last five years and has won over plenty of fans in his two years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While all of those things are true, it can also still be true that the Los Angeles Lakers might have made the wrong choice in making Kuzma the untouchable player in the Anthony Davis trade talks that occurred this summer.

This discussion is once again in the news as Kobe Bryant hypothesized that the Lakers kept Kuzma rather than Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball because of Kuzma’s versatility (h/t LakerNation).

Kobe is a very bright guy and Laker fans around the world will stop and take notice when he has something to say about the team, but I am still not sure that Kobe is right.

Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers obviously are still perfectly fine off with keeping Kuzma and having him be the team’s third-best player. However, when examing what Kuzma brings to the table, it is interesting to think why the Lakers made the decision they made. It had to be more than just versatility.

Either way, I have to explain my reasoning. Thus, here are the three reasons why the Lakers might have been wrong in making Kyle Kuzma the player to keep.