Projecting the 20 most promising young duos in the NBA

19. Kyle Kuzma and Kostas Antetokounmpo (Los Angeles Lakers)

If Kyle Kuzma develops into an All-Star sooner than later, the Los Angeles Lakers will feel a lot better about missing out on Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

The Lakers were able to keep Kuzma when they traded much of the young foundation they had been building to New Orleans in exchange for Anthony Davis to complete their first major 2019 offseason project. The 24-year-old Kuzma then became an even more important piece of the puzzle after Leonard snubbed the Lakers for the next-door-neighbor Clippers, and newly-signed center DeMarcus Cousins went down with a torn ACL.

Kuzma, a versatile forward who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season, is now the Lakers’ clear No. 3 option behind Davis and LeBron. All of Laker Nation is hoping he becomes a legit one-third of a “Big 3” trio of superstars.

Meanwhile, Kostas Antetokounmpo — the younger brother of league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo — is an entirely unproven bundle of potential.

There’s actually a theory that the Lakers signed Kostas primarily to improve their chances of getting Giannis when he becomes a free agent in 2021, but there is a chance Kostas turns into an impact player himself.

Kostas is a 21-year-old forward with size (6’10”, 200 pounds) and athleticism, however, he played all of two NBA games and 11 total minutes with the Dallas Mavericks last season after being the last pick in the 2018 draft.

Don’t be surprised if, in the immediate future, Kostas is similarly buried on the Lakers’ bench or if he spends more of his time serving G League stints for a veteran-laden squad that is trying to win now.