The 2020 NBA trade deadline is still two weeks away, and few players have been at the center of more rumors than Kyle Kuzma. The forward was in a similar position last year when the Los Angeles Lakers were making a push to acquire Anthony Davis.

L.A. didn’t make a major deal before the 2019 deadline, but the team did give up a slew of young players and draft picks for Davis in the summer. While Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were sent to the New Orleans Pelicans, Kuzma remained with the Lakers, an instant championship contender.

“I consumed it more last year,” Kuzma told The Athletic Monday. “This year is different. I don’t care at all, but last year it was new and foreign, so it was like more of a can’t-really-escape-it thing. But for me it’s a little bit easier now. I don’t really have my Twitter like that. I don’t really use it.”

The trade rumors haven’t stopped now that Los Angeles sits atop the Western Conference standings. Kuzma is viewed by many as an asset that should be flipped to improve the Lakers’ title chances.

Davis and LeBron James are the NBA’s best duo. With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and arguably the league’s deepest bench, the Los Angeles Clippers might be the most difficult team to beat in the playoffs.

Kuzma, often the odd man out in a lineup that features Davis, James and either Dwight Howard or JaVale McGee, could be used to acquire one or two players that fit better on the Lakers’ roster.

The third-year player has seen his minutes (33.1 mpg to 24.8 mpg) and scoring average (18.7 ppg to 13.2 ppg) decrease from last season. He’s come off the bench in 28 of his 34 games.

Kuzma is making 33.9% of his threes, up from 30.3% a season ago. He’s proven to be a valuable scoring option with the second unit.

Maybe Kuzma isn’t the third “star” that the Lakers hoped he would become, but he has a chance to be an important member of a championship team.

“It’s not about points,” Kuzma said to The Athletic. “It’s about just trying to win. Obviously everybody’s got to sacrifice and that’s just for the betterment of the team. When I have scoring opportunities, I take them, attack them and if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen. It’s just the way with how our team is constructed and I just got to find a way, and find ways to contribute to winning basketball.”

Kuzma has seen increased playing time because of Davis’ recent injury, averaging 16.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in January.

Kyle Kuzma
In this picture, Kyle Kuzma #0, and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on December 18, 2018 in New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
RELATED STORIES
Basketball