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The Lakers misplaced within the first spherical of the 2021 NBA playoffs and struggled towards the tip of the season as LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been each banged up. Nonetheless, the roster’s issues go past the injured stars, and GM Rob Pelinka is trying to repair a giant drawback space this offseason.
Los Angeles shot simply 34.9 p.c from past the arc final season, which was tied for twenty third within the NBA with the Timberwolves. As such, the Lakers are in search of an improve and so they could have one in thoughts.
As Shams Charania of The Athletic experiences, the Lakers are pursuing a “participant who offers playmaking and shot creation” round James and Davis. One choice that they’ve mentioned buying and selling for is Kings guard Buddy Hield, and a package deal to get him may embody Kyle Kuzma.
The Lakers and Sacramento Kings have mentioned a deal centered on guard Buddy Hield, sources inform The Athletic. Lakers ahead Kyle Kuzma could be concerned in a possible package deal, per sources. The Lakers have obtained curiosity from a number of groups concerning Kuzma, sources mentioned.
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Hield definitely could be an improve for the Lakers. He’s a profession 40.6 p.c 3-point shooter and made 39.1 p.c of his photographs final yr whereas averaging 16.6 factors and a career-high 3.6 assists per sport. He could not have as many photographs per sport with the Lakers, however he would offer the group with an excellent spot-up shooter round James and Davis.
As for Kuzma, his play has stagnated the final couple of years regardless of working with LeBron and AD. Throughout his first two seasons, he averaged 17.3 factors and 5.9 rebounds per sport on 45.3 p.c capturing. In two years with the celebrities, he has averaged simply 12.8 factors and 5.6 rebounds whereas seeing his capturing share dip to 43.9 p.c.
Kuzma simply turned 26 and nonetheless has some upside, however the Lakers appear prepared to maneuver on from him. In reality, the Lakers appear able to deal each him and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski detailed in a latest podcast with Zach Lowe.
“Virtually each group I discuss to within the league has been provided some mixture of Kuz and KCP,” Wojnarowski mentioned. “Generally each of them, one among them, and that is not going to get them again a degree guard of Dennis [Schroder’s] stature.”
Possibly that package deal will not land a top quality level guard, however may it land them a shooter like Hield? Maybe, although Los Angeles could have so as to add draft capital to it. On the similar time, Hield has expressed displeasure with Sacramento at instances over the previous couple of years, so perhaps the Kings might be excited about giving the 28-year-old Hield a contemporary begin.
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