Kyle Kuzma agrees to three-year, $40-million contract extension with Lakers

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma drives to the basket during a preseason game against the Clippers on Dec. 11. “We’ll see.” Kuzma’s extension includes a player option after the second year, people with knowledge of the deal said. 27 pick in the 2017 draft, Kuzma is the last remaining link to the Lakers’ painful rebuild as the team tried to bridge the gap between Kobe Bryant and its next star, LeBron James. “It is especially gratifying for our Lakers franchise to draft, develop and now sign one of our own to a contract extension,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. Kyle has been a terrific member of the Lakers community and we are all very excited about his continued future with us.” After averaging 16.1 points as a rookie and 18.7 points in his second season, Kuzma settled into a smaller role in his third year, primarily coming off the bench to average 12.8 points behind James and Anthony Davis.