Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the team’s 2018-19 starting lineup

Power Forward: Kyle Kuzma

The most exciting of the Lakers’ rising stars, Kyle Kuzma has spent his entire rookie season shocking the rest of the league. The No. 27 overall pick has exceeded all expectations, and is currently making a case for himself as the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year.

All potential awards aside, Kuzma figures to be a prominent piece of this lineup for years to come. He’s already proven his worth as an electric scorer, rebounder and overall lightning rod, bringing tremendous energy, passion and confidence to this Lakers lineup. That should ring true for years, especially if he continues to develop at his current pace.

The best part is that Kuzma figures to only get better as the years go by. Even by 2018, he should have taken a significant step forward in his progress as a player. Whether he’s upgrading his efficiency as a shooter or working on his average defensive chops, there’s more room to grow.

For the purposes of this exercise, though, he’s an ideal fit as the starting power forward. He can serve as a stretch-4 type talent, with the ability to hit from anywhere on the floor while also displaying the tenacity and technique to effectively crash the boards. Just ask the eight rebounds per game he’s averaging in the month of December.

It’s amazing to see how far Kuzma has come in such a short amount of time. Having him in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future should be a top priority for the Lakers.