Former Utah F Kyle Kuzma Agrees To Contract Extension With Lakers

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Utes forward Kyle Kuzma will be sticking around with the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Kuzma and the Lakers agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $40 million.

The deal will reportedly have a player option for the 2023-24 season.

Player option on a non-max rookie extension is a first in league, a creative wrinkle that allows Kuzma into unrestricted free agency in his prime at 28. Smart move and great benefit for Kuzma should he out-perform this deal headed into summer of 2023.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2020

The Lakers drafted Kuzma with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The upcoming 2020-21 season was the last year of his rookie contract and is set to make $3,562,178.

His new deal will have two years guaranteed for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons before having the player option to return for the 2023-24 season or become a free agent.

In three seasons with the Lakers, Kuzma averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while shooting 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from the three-point line and 73 percent at the foul line.

This past season was his lowest scoring average but that was due to Anthony Davis joining the team to pair with LeBron James. Kuzma averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the Lakers last season and won his first NBA Championship.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.