No. 4 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — Kyle Kuzma
Sticking with the Lakers, Kyle Kuzma was also traded there on draft night after being taken with the 27th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets. If the Bucks were interested in bolstering their forward rotation, Kuzma would have been a better option than Wilson.
Kuzma’s first four years in Los Angeles have certainly produced mixed results. During his first two years, the forward showed signs of star potential, showing a knack for scoring and rebounding the basketball at a high level. However, when the Lakers traded for big man Anthony Davis, Kuzma’s minutes regressed mightily, and while he was still playing a valuable role for the team, it was far less than what he had been throughout his first two seasons, which made his numbers decrease.
Averaging 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game is still a solid line for the four-year man, and he would have been solid with the Bucks. Backing up Antetokounmo, Kuzma could have given the team a much-needed boost in the second unit to shore up their scoring efforts. His fit with the current roster is certainly questionable, but it would have made sense at the time of the pick to bring him in. Instead, he will hit the stage with the Washington Wizards next season after being traded there in the offseason in the Russell Westbrook trade.