The Los Angeles Lakers should seriously consider a trade to land Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma. It may not sound like the ideal trade, but it actually makes perfect sense, as it would give LA a tradable $20 million contract to work with in potential deals this summer. That would provide some elite flexibility.

Kuzma is having a fine season, and he could help the Lakers compete right now, but the most important part about a potential deal would be maintaining the contract slot. LA is going to be pressed financially moving forward, and they need to maximize things as much as possible.

Adding Kuzma in a deal at this year’s deadline would help them do that, while also allowing the Bucks to get off his money a year early.

Obviously, things haven’t gone too well for the Bucks this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo may end up requesting a trade, and if that happens, Milwaukee could decide to clean house.

That would likely mean Kuzma could be available to trade, which would open the door for LA to make a move to bring back their former Rookie of the Year candidate.

Kuzma makes $22.4 million this season, which would make a trade somewhat difficult. However, the Lakers could get there with a deal that looks something like this:

Lakers receive: Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr.

Bucks receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes, draft capital

Losing Hayes would be a relatively tough blow for the Lakers, but they could make up for his minutes with Jarred Vanderbilt, and potentially even Adou Thiero. They could also find someone on the buyout market or in free agency, if need be.

Getting Kuzma would give them another solid forward to deploy off the pine, but the most important part of the deal would be the financial side of things.

Right now, Vincent and Kleber’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. The same can be said for Hayes. This is the last time they’ll be able to use their salaries in a trade.

And since LA will have to re-sign Austin Reaves to (most likely) a megadeal this summer, their ability to sign free agents and make big-swing trades will become very limited.

By making this trade, they would keep $20 million in tradable salary on the roster heading into the summer. That could allow them to add another solid piece next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Maybe it would be a guy like Nicolas Claxton or Jakob Poeltl. Perhaps an Andrew Wiggins-type player.

The point is, by trading for Kuzma now, the Lakers will have more options this summer. All while adding a decent piece in the short-term.