Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Listening to Kyle Kuzma Offers Ahead of 2020 Deadline

Ringo H.W. Chiu/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly listening to trade offers for Kyle Kuzma.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, "sources now say the Lakers have shown a recent willingness to listen to pitches for Kuzma."

Amick added that general manager Rob Pelinka is simply "doing due diligence" on trade offers, but it shows the 24-year-old forward is far from untouchable as the Feb. 6 deadline approaches.

This comes only a few days after Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Lakers weren't interested in a deal despite interest from other teams and that they valued Kuzma as a "core part of the future."

Trading him would've been considered a surprise this offseason after the team chose to keep him while dealing away Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and other assets in the Anthony Davis swap. He averaged 18.7 points per game last year, second only to LeBron James on the team, while leading the team in minutes.

However, injuries and a smaller role have led to a disappointing start to the 2019-20 season for Kuzma.

Through 26 games, he's only averaging 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

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While he's still the No. 3 option behind James and Davis as expected, he rarely makes the type of impact we saw last season.

Los Angeles could deal him in a package for another big-time player who can play a bigger role in helping the squad bring home a championship.

From the other perspective, another NBA team could acquire a talented young scorer at his lowest trade value.

NBC Sports Boston and Sports Illustrated Senior Writer, Chris Mannix, returns to “The Full 48 with Howard Beck” to discuss David Stern, highlights from the 2010s, and freezing-cold takes and predictions for the 2020s including Player of the Decade, Team of the Decade, LeBron James, age limits, NBA expansion, and the New York Knicks.