Even though on a 3-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Lakers have many fixes to make. Amongst them is their rebounding. With Anthony Davis the only distinguished big in the rotations, they ranked 25th in offensive rebounding. Hence, the links to the Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas are gaining gravitas with each passing day. However, if they could snipe another Washington star too, it would be a homecoming!

In recent weeks, Kyle Kuzma’s name has been floated around in trade talks. Kuz, currently suffering from a rib sprain, hasn’t had the greatest season thus far, synonymous with how the Wizards have performed in the last few weeks. But title challengers are heavily sold on his skillset. After all, he’s a wing that can shoot the ball when given the right looks.

It just so happens that the Wizards, having knowledge of how far they stand, are willing to offload the seasoned forward. According to Marc Stein, “The rising belief leaguewide is that the Wizards are eager to find a trade partner for Kuzma at some point during the next six-plus weeks”. Importantly, Kuzma too seems on board for this move.

Naturally, similar to last season, the possibility of returning to the Purple and Gold is wide open. The Lakers, alongside rebounding, are in dire need of a capable shooter. Kuzma’s been subpar from the perimeter, but when on the Lakers, he shot a near career-best 36.1% in his last season.

For a team that ranks 22nd, a player like Kuzma could tremendously bolster their competitiveness. And it seems Laker Nation agrees!

Laker Nation urges Rob Pelinka to trade for Kyle Kuzma: “We’ll take it”

There are several reasons for the Lakers to make a possible trade for Kyle Kuzma. But the most helpful is his prior experience playing beside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. With his experience within the Lakers, not only can he adapt faster but also gain a role that he found great success in. And fans feel, “Rob Pelinka cannot miss out on this”.

Kyle Kuzma was a part of the ravishing young core Rob Pelinka and Co. once boasted. It included the likes of Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Lonzo Ball all of whom have delivered on their promising potential. A move for Kuzma opens the horizon for a meticulous coach such as JJ Redick. Whether it’s a mix of lineups or even another scoring threat, a trade could significantly improve the Lakers.

One fan underlined this urgency. “As lifelong lakers fan I think we NEED to do this trade. This will immediately put us over the top as contenders,” they wrote. Even though his stint wasn’t too long, Kyle Kuzma played an integral role in the LA side, hanging a 17th banner in their rafters. His contributions during the postseason, especially in the series against their nemesis, the Nuggets, became a huge reason behind the Purple and Gold’s last championship conquest.

And as time has passed, Kuzma too has evolved as a player. Even with a heavy-scoring guard like Jordan Poole by his side, Kuzma averaged a career-high 22 points last season. Furthermore, he has the ability to stay healthy, having played at least 60 games in all of his seven seasons. “He’ll probably go back to the Lakers. We’ll take it” a fan wrote.

If played right, the Lakers could potentially grab both Kuzma and Valanciunas, filling two voids at the same time. They both have relatively friendly contracts. Moreover, with the Wizards’ current position, the leverage is arguably in the hands of the Purple and Gold. It’s all about constructing a fair deal.

Most important though is Kyle Kuzma’s time with the Lakers. He had claimed to have learned “everything” during his time in LA. For sure, now, he is more mature and aware of his playstyle. And fans feel he could be the missing key.

“Send him to the Lake Show and call it a day” one fan encaptured the sentiment. For Kuz in particular, it’s a chance to return to the place where he made valuable contributions. Then there is the chance of competing, which at 29 is an enticing offer. One thing is for certain, Rob Pelinka has to be quick. Several teams have marked Kuzma as a target. Hence, this could all come down to a rat race.

Do you think the Lakers should make this move? Let us know your views in the comments below.