Kyle Kuzma was the one young player that avoided the cull this summer when the likes of Lonzo Ball, Brancon Ingram and Josh Hart were traded to New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis. Los Angeles Lakers made it clear in the summer that the forward was untouchable and were expecting him to be a key part of the starting lineup alongside LeBron James and Davis.

The Lakers, however, have suffered a setback heading into training camp after the team confirmed that Kuzma will be out indefinitely after failing to sufficiently recover from an ankle injury he picked up while with Team USA. He will miss training camp and the games in China with the team scheduling a scan after they return from the Far East.

“Kyle Kuzma is progressing with his rehabilitation from an injury (stress reaction, left foot) that occurred while he was with USA Basketball. He has not been cleared for full practice or game participation. He is scheduled for an MRI when the team returns from China, and a status update will be given at that time,” the team said in a statement on its official site.

The 24-year-old is expected to travel with the team to China to continue his rehabilitation but his lack of involvement on the court will be a big miss for the Lakers. Kuzma is expected to return mid-October with the Lakers opening the regular season against city rivals and fellow title contenders Los Angeles Clippers.

Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma, #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers, grabs his ankle after landing awkwardly during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Mar. 04, 2019. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The Lakers also have other injury concerns with 2019 second round draft pick Talen Horton-Tucker also currently on the sidelines with a stress reaction in his right foot. He was picked 46th overall in 2019 by Orlando Magic but his rights were later traded to the Lakers for a 2020 second round pick and future cash considerations.

The 18-year-old shooting guard is expected to take limited participation in training camp and he continues to receive treatment. Meanwhile, another 2019 acquisition Jordan Caroline is expected to miss 10-12 weeks after recently undergoing surgery on his left 5th metatarsal.

The Lakers will travel to China at the beginning of October where they will play two games as part of the NBA China Games against Brooklyn Nets. The first game is in Shanghai on Oct. 10 and the second against the same opposition will be in Shenzhen on Oct. 12.

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