Los Angeles Lakers Forward Shrugs Off Extension Talks In Offseason

Kyle Kuzma is not in the mood to discuss any extension talks with the Los Angeles Lakers. Focused on the team’s campaign in the NBA restart, the third-year man simply shrugged off questions asking about the status of his future in L.A. as he appeared confident of his value, pointing out that money is already in his bag “regardless.”

“I mean, I’m gonna get paid regardless so I don’t really care,” Kuzma told the media on Wednesday, via Sabreena Merchant of Silver Screen and Roll. “It’s gonna happen one day. So I don’t think about that.”

Notably, the 24-year-old joined fellow batchmates Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum in a meeting with NBA executives prior to their travel going to the Orlando bubble. The said group reportedly sought for some insurance protection as each of them are scheduled to negotiate possible contract extensions with their respective teams in the offseason.

The Michigan-born player is projected to breach the $5 million total salary mark since he was picked 27th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. As he was able to earn the trust of the Lakers management, Kuzma seems upbeat that a huge payday is just around the corner.

Despite being a usual subject in the Lakers' trade rumor mill, Kuzma has kept his poise for the purple and gold. And while it is unlikely that he would get a max offer, let alone in the offseason, signals suggest the scoring forward would get paid anyway.

“The third-year Laker isn’t projected to get a maximum extension like the other players who were seeking insurance, but he is highly valued by the team and governor Jeanie Buss,” Merchant added. “The Lakers kept Kuzma over all of their other young players in the Anthony Davis trade this past offseason, and the front office clearly has remained bullish on Kuzma’s star potential.

“So yes, Kuzma will get paid eventually, and most likely by the Lakers. It probably won’t be this offseason as the Lakers keep their salary cap space for the summer of 2021 when the older brother of a certain two-way player will be a free agent. In due time, however, Kuzma stands to earn a pretty penny.”

Kuzma’s numbers took a dive with the addition of Anthony Davis in the Lakers roster. In 54 games this season, he started in just seven games while averaging a career-low of 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. But if his body language is to be judged, it appears Kuzma is likely to get richer while staying in Hollywood for a longer period.