Kuzma on page 2? Tsk Tsk. Fearless Prediction: Publicly Kuzma will make All Rookie Team and privately, GMs across the league regret the day they passed on him. Laugh if you want, but I see a poor mans Carmelo Anthony in his game. Watch him post up with that high dribble and aggressive move to get his shot off. He also has a nice jumper and can run the floor. I expect him to struggle on defense, like most rookies do, but if he improves on that end, I have no issues with parting ways with Julius and going with a 2 headed monster at PF with him and Nance. Anyway, Ingram said he went at him really hard today because he sees something special in his game. Love that competitiveness in an effort to get everyone better.
^^^ He always seems to be a focus when practice is mentioned, guys are shown in the weight room, I agree with you he has the potential to surprise people. The only thing he has to do is earn time, and he seemingly only has to beat out Brewer and the Denchor so it’s not an impossibility. In fact, it’s likely they WANT to get him that time and that’s why he’s been practicing the 3 position instead of the 4 where he’d harder time getting time over Randle and Nance. Yeah, he’ll have the usual rookie struggles, but he doesn’t seem scared of this stage at all, seems like he wants to step in and play right away. Haven’t heard him say I’m here to sit and watch and learn. The potential is there for him to be one of the steals of the draft, just another bonus from the Russ trade.
According to Luke - Ingram, Randle, and Kuzma were the standouts in the drills defensively this morning. Out of anyone on this team including Lonzo, I want Kuzma to get some playing time the most when the season starts. Lonzo is going to get minutes of course and I know our PF spot is kind of crowded already. But if we go small with the second lineup where Nance is playing the Center spot Kuzma could play the 4 than. I also think Kuzma will get a legit shot at the 3 in pre-season to see how he can adjust to that which I don't see any reason why he couldn't.
It'll come down to defense. Ingram is special on that end (rarely makes mistakes, very steady). Kuzma needs to watch a lot of tape of Ingram last year. I think he can make the transition you described, but it may take some time. Not many rookies are ready defensively. Especially trying to play a different position.
Kyle be like, I know LonZo was all the rage on draft night, but I'm gonna show y'all these #Flint-Stones! Dude did not shrink when the curtains went up. Love this guy...Expecting big things from him this season. Forget Clarkson, he's our 6th man! #YabbaDabbaKuuuuz
We need to consider this... Do you start Kuz and bring Randle off the bench with Nance, Brewer, Clarkson and Ennis?
Before we even get to this point I just hope Kuzma isn’t behind Randle AND Deng on the depth chart. Like unless Deng has secretly become an amazing shooter he shouldn’t even see the floor anymore, doesn’t matter if he’s highly paid. After that is answered I think the Randle/Kuzma thing will work itself out.
Kuzma is a stud but I do think he is on some sort of a hot streak. We know well he plays with Lonzo, but it's a bit too soon to place him in the starting lineup. I'd like to see a few games with Lopez as a starter.
It’s definitely too soon to make him a starter, he’s a rookie, he will have struggles. I do think he’s shown that he has serious game though, outside of the Lonzo effect. Last summer league game he was mvp and Ball didn’t play, and tonight he did most of his damage with the bench unit as well. He’s creating his own offense, it’s very impressive.
I agree it’s too soon for him to be a starter but Nance will see his minutes reduced. Kuzma is just too good not to play. Besides the efficient game tonight there is just something special about him... you just feel it. He just plays the right way and I could tell he has a high basketball iq.
