Sacramento Kings Reportedly Interested In Lakers NBA Champion

According to Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings have interest in Kyle Kuzma.

Jun 3, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers 2019-2020 NBA Championship banner at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Kuzma is a talented forward who has spent the last three seasons playing for the Washington Wizards.

The 2020 NBA Champion finished the regular season with averages of 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per contest while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.6% from the three-point range in 70 games.

On Monday, Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Sacramento Kings are a team that has had interest in Kuzma since he was dealt to Washington in 2021.

Via Amick and Slater's article in The Athletic: "Ever since, McNair and the Kings have maintained a varying level of interest in trading for Kuzma, which has picked back up to some degree this summer."

The Kings, armed with the No. 13 pick and pressure to keep up in the West, want to upgrade their roster this week. A deeper look at options, the De'Aaron Fox factor that looms, and why they're being aggressive, at @TheAthletic (w/ @anthonyVslater)https://t.co/NNJkje5JnJ

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 24, 2024

The Kings have a talented roster led by De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

Considering they have a point guard and a big man, adding a player like Kuzma on the wing would likely be an excellent fit for their starting lineup.

Mar 21, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) drives to the basket as Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) defends during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, the Wizards are a team that is in rebuilding mode, so Kuzma (who is 28) may not make sense for their long-term plans.

The Wizards finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-67 record, which had them as the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference.

They have missed the NBA playoffs in all three seasons that Kuzma has been on the roster.

The Kings continue to show interest in trading for Kyle Kuzma, per @sam_amick/@anthonyVslater (https://t.co/AGUHuUOvd7).

Sacramento’s No. 13 overall pick is “very available” in trade talks for the right win-now player. pic.twitter.com/WnxhimMmPN

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2024

Kuzma has played seven years in the NBA for the Wizards and Lakers.

He has career averages of 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest while shooting 45.1% form the field and 33.7% from the three-point range.