Rookie power forward Kyle Kuzma had a feeling the Lakers would draft him after his stock rose, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports. Kuzma, who declared after his junior season at Utah, was originally pegged as second-round material who might even go undrafted. Kuzma wound up getting picked 27th overall and has taken the league by storm, posting three double-doubles and three 20-point games. “I knew I was way better than that, better than how people pegged me,” he told Charania. “After I killed draft workouts and the combine, I knew I would go in the first round. I had a good hint that it would be L.A., just because of the workout and my combine interview with them, but I didn’t know until draft night.”
In other items concerning the Lakers:
- The offense has perked up in recent games and center Brook Lopez has played a big role in that improvement, as Joey Ramirez of the team’s website notes. Lopez, who was acquired in an offseason deal with the Nets, is the NBA’s sixth-highest scorer over the last three games, averaging 27.3 PPG. Kuzma believes improved health has led to Lopez’s offensive outburst, as he told Ramirez. “The whole preseason he was really bad with a back injury and little nicks and bruises,” Kuzma said. “You can tell he’s getting back to the Nets version of Brook Lopez.”
- Lopez and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have helped to stabilize a mostly youthful roster, coach Luke Walton told NBA.com’s David Aldridge. Lopez has provided a steadying force on offense, while Caldwell-Pope has helped establish a defensive mindset, Aldridge adds. Caldwell-Pope signed a one-year, $18MM free agent contract after the Pistons renounced his rights during restricted free agency. “I think KCP coming over, just a hard-nosed player,” Walton told Aldridge. “He’s been in that Eastern Conference, hard worker. He kind of helps set that tone. Brook’s been a solid vet in this league for a long time.”
- Larry Nance Jr. is frustrated by his latest injury setback, as he told Bill Oram of the Orange County Register and other media members. Nance Jr., who missed multiple games with knee injuries the last two seasons, is out 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. He was averaging 10.6 PPG and 7.4 RPG in 23.1 MPG before suffering the injury Thursday. “I was given a really good chance, was making the most of it,” he said. “So I’m just anxious to get back and keep making a good impression.”
Wouldn’t it be crazy if Kuzma won ROY over Ball? Lol. Kuzma is a stud. The guys a baller!! I know it’s early and a lot of games still but right now Ball is not living up to the hype completely but I hope that changes even if it’s not until next year. I do see a ton of potential though.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on ball winning any scoring titles. I would have traded pick and grabbed a few nice players like Kuzma.
ROY consideration is likely; but we’ll see.
ZO needs to develope more before he starts changinging game outcomes. But doing well so far 2 years out of high school.
ZO will be fine in time.
Ahahahaha THERE IS ZERO CHANCE Ball wins ROY hahahah … crazy
man send deng and ingram to the bulls lol.
We’ll give you Deng
The writing of “Shams” Charania:
“With the league increasingly valuing positional flexibility, Kuzma translates and has performed better than few imagined.”
..so most everyone he would have performed as well or better than he has, basically everyone thought he would be an instant all star. But the few that thought he would perform like a generic late first round pick, well he performed better than those few imagined.
“”We all felt Kyle gave us the architect of what we want in a player:”
…so either Rob Pelinka used the word “architect” instead of “archetype” or else “Shams” doesn’t know the word “archetype” and so bastardized Pelinka’s quote.