Chicago Bulls: 3 trade targets worth a gamble this offseason

2. Kyle Kuzma, Forward

A common name that appeared in the rumor mill discussion earlier in the 2019-20 season was the Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma. Even though nothing came of it through the 2020 trade deadline, Kuzma could still be a piece that is not in the long-term plans for the Lakers building around an aging superstar forward LeBron James and big man Anthony Davis.

There was a point in time where Kuzma was supposed to be that third piece that stars alongside AD and LeBron. But that has not come to fruition as of yet. And that could eventually lead to the Lakers shopping Kuzma to try and add a more productive part to LeBron and AD’s supporting cast.

Kuzma actually had his least efficient season in the NBA to date with the Lakers. He averaged 12.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks. Kuzma shot 43.2 percent from the field, 29.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 73.8 percent from the free-throw line.

That amounted to a dismal -3.5 box plus/minus rating, -0.5 value over replacement player rating, .052 win shares per 48 minutes, 1.4 total win shares, and a 52.2 true shooting percentage.

Kuzma has yet to post a single box plus/minus rating in his career to date above zero. But he has showed promise in the past of being a potent two-way forward a decent volume scorer. He averaged around 19 points per game, three assists, and six rebounds, while shooting better than 45 percent from the field during the 2018-19 season.

That would be the version of Kuzma that the Bulls would try to capture if they wanted to add depth to the frontcourt rotation and give him a legitimate change of scenery this offseason.