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Los Angeles Lakers: Three potential trades to address team’s needs

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 12: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after hitting a three point shot over Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 12, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 123-115. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 12: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after hitting a three point shot over Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 12, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 123-115. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Trade #3:

Another trade that includes Kyle Kuzma and the logic is exactly the same: the Los Angeles Lakers would be trading for someone who is a better fit around LeBron James and the rest of the players on the team.

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Full disclosure, this trade idea came from Brian Windhorst, who mentioned (not reported) on The Bill Simmons Podcast that if the Lakers were to trade Kuzma that Bogdanovic would be a good fit in Los Angeles.

Bogdanovic is another reliable shooting wing for the Lakers that could log minutes at either the shooting guard or small forward position. He is shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc this season and is averaging 14.6 points per game.

The logic here for the Sacramento Kings would be that Bogdanovic is a restricted free agent after this season. And while the team has bird rights on the forward, they also have to worry about the other players that are the core of the team that they are going to have to pay in the near future.

Kuzma is someone who has a decently high ceiling and who knows, could perform better back under head coach Luke Walton.

Meanwhile, the Lakers could utilize those bird rights to re-sign Bogdanovic, which has multiple purposes. Not only is he a three-point scoring option, but as Windhorst mentioned, he would give the Lakers that perfect “in-between” contract that could be used in future trades as well.

Next. Five ways for the Lakers to be even better. dark

As much of a fan-favorite that Kuzma is, he simply is not a great fit on the Los Angeles Lakers and as the team’s most valuable trade chip, he has to be mentioned as a possibility during the deadline.

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