LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 21: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a lead over the New York Knicks with Kyle Kuzma #0 during the first half at Staples Center on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kyle Kuzma is featuring heavily in trade rumors and Jordan Clarkson had some fun at his expense on Twitter.
Jordan Clarkson, a former Laker who was teammates with LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers, took to Twitter last night to suggest what the fate one of James’ current teammates might have a short time playing alongside the superstar. Clarkson was traded from the Lakers to the Cavaliers last season with Larry Nance.
Clarkson and Nance were sent to Cleveland in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and a top-three protected 2018 first-round pick at the trade deadline in 2018. Clarkson labeled himself the “6-foot-5” Kyle Kuzma, hinting that the Lakers are going to treat him in a similar fashion.
For what it’s worth, the comparison is funny, and self-aware on Clarkson’s part. Both players are (extremely) shoot-first, showed promise early in their career with the Lakers in a sixth-man type role, and both were arguably under-drafted coming out of college. Clarkson was taken with the No. 46 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of the University of Missouri, while Kuzma was selected No. 27 overall in 2017 after three years at the University of Utah.
Clarkson later added what appears to be subtweet towards Kuzma, potentially implying it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. Maybe he caught wind Kuzma didn’t take the joke too well.
Whatever the case may be with this exchange, it is very possible that Kuzma is going to be involved in an Anthony Davis-Lakers trade, whether he winds up in New Orleans or with a potential third team. As of now, the Lakers are supposedly trying to keep Kuzma out of trade talks with the Pelicans, while Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram have reportedly been made available. It remains to be seen what the Lakers will be able to get done this offseason, but by all indications, significant roster overhaul appears to be on the horizon this summer in Los Angeles.