Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players most likely to be traded in 2018

2. Kyle Kuzma

Next, I pondered each of the Lakers’ top-three youngsters: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma. Julius Randle would have also been considered, but I don’t see a sign-and-trade happening — either the Lakers re-sign him or he leaves Los Angeles in his dust and never looks back.

Well, I just can’t imagine the Lakers moving Ball. At this moment, he’s essentially the face of the franchise, having built a huge fanbase in Los Angeles before he even became the No. 2 overall pick. Moving him would be a collosal mistake on multiple levels. It just isn’t going to happen, even if the Lakers are supposedly open to trading anyone.

What about Ingram? Well, he was the only untouchable one offseason ago. What’s changed since last year? If anything, there’s even more reason for us to believe Ingram is capable of developing into a superstar in Los Angeles. Unless a trade for Kawhi Leonard materializes (highly unlikely), I don’t see Ingram being dealt.

That leaves Kuzma. While I’m still not sold on any blockbuster deal being made in the coming months, I see the former No. 27 overall pick being the guy if it comes to that. Kuzma isn’t the star of the show, but offers enough upside to excite a trade partner. It’s going to take more than him to put an intriguing package together, but he’s a valuable asset regardless.

Kuzmania is strong in Los Angeles. While that may be, he still stands a better chance of being dealt to a new NBA home than Ball or Ingram.