^ Someone mentioned self awareness and Kuzma in the same sentence around these parts. Personally, as long as he plays D and hits some makeable shots, don't care if he wears a pink tutu and a tiara.
Kuzma at least will not start off with a difficult injury that will linger for a period... He won't have that fallback excuse. Unless he hurts himself slipping trying to figure out which wild outfit he will selfie himself with.
I think he's going to be the odd one left out... his fit just seems weird with everyone else. He is one of our tallest wings though.
I like it, I like the take. Anyone who can't see this, is simply soulless. It ain't easy playing for the LA Lakers. Expectations are always high. You have to know you can play at a very high level to even have a chance at success here. A very tough place to be a kid. But .... it is what it is. You either can face it or not. You don't get five years to prove it. I think we tend to give around 3 years, (a rookie contract), and then you might get a year or two in a trade scenario if we bring you in. There is good and bad to it, no doubt. We should all understand it and have some sympathy for the kids who come in as rookies. THT will start facing this reality soon. So will AC!
I didn’t mean anything negative by what I said, I genuinely meant he shouldn’t read the comments. Twitter comments section is a toxic waste dump, bunch of morons spouting nonsense and hate anonymously because they can or because they’re bored. I’m happy for Kuz’s success and having a shoe deal and all that, dude was the 27th pick and has had a nice career so far, with still room to grow.
I was defending his social media usage and branding earlier, but I couldn’t help but cringe at that Puma commercial. I mean it’s okay, I get his point and hopefully he uses the criticism as motivation to improve. But the video itself was kinda cheesy, him just working out in the gym by himself with the dramatic music. He even yells “And one!” at one point which is hilarious for a solo workout. But his last tweet (now deleted) was something along the lines of “Enough disrespect on my name, y’all will be reminded” and then he goes off the grid ... only to come back to Twitter a week later with a commercial? What did you remind us of? That you were able to leverage the brand power of the Lakers to get a Puma endorsement? Would’ve been cool if he got off social media for a longer time period and came in balling to start the season. Now, it almost seems like him suspending his Twitter was just a PR move for this commercial.
Will be an interesting predicament at the trade deadline. He's a cost friendly young player under contract but he is also going to be a restricted free agent next summer. Considering how much talent is available, how big of a payday will he get? There's also the dilemma for the Lakers if they can let an asset like him walk away for nothing ala Julius Randle considering how much we have invested into his development. We will see around the trade deadline how things look.
We were wise to put off his extension. We need to see him for another year before committing big bucks, or even KCP kind of money he'll likely command on the open market. I hope he makes it impossible not to keep him. I hope he makes pursuit of a 3rd star unnecessary. But I'm definitely not holding my breath. I feel like his ceiling is KCPish.
Right because it was in summer 2018 when we signed Lebron I believe we used the money to sign Rondo instead because Randle and his agent got sore. NBA in 2020 is all about making full use of assets. Boston has been in like 3-4 straight ECFs and they still got a TPE and 2nd rounders out of Gordon Hayward joining another team. They wised up after Kyrie and Horford left for nothing. We have to do the same and get something in return if Kuzma were to join another team. We have to find S & T partners but I'm not sure if agents and other teams are keen to play along.
We are the Lakers. Even if we lose Kuz for nothing, it is far from doomsday for us when the very best of Klutch Sports want to be here lol
The Lakers FO needs to adjust. I'm sure they will. Back in 2008 to 2010 when we had our title runs we would give away 1st round picks and trade Sasha with another 1st rounder to get expiring contracts in return it just made little sense. We need better asset management in the new NBA. It's all about getting something back in return for FAs leaving
