2018-19 NBA Preview: Areas of improvement for each Lakers youngster

#3 Kyle Kuzma: Defense

Kuzma will attempt to adjust to a LeBron-centered offense for the Lakers this season

Putting together one of the most remarkable rookie seasons in history for a late first-round pick last season, Kyle Kuzma is, in many people's eyes, the Lakers' best young player - although I would disagree on that take. Straight off the bat, he's showcased a sweet scoring touch, and coming off the bench last season he had one of the greenest lights in the league to go on a shooting spree.

That will change, however, as Kuzma will attempt to adjust to a LeBron-centered offense for the Lakers this season. He will be asked to expend more energy off the ball in offense, and might just be needed to play shooting guard at times.

Kuzma's rookie season was quite bad defensively, though it was nothing unusual by rookie standards.

An offseason to train alongside other NBA players may just be what he needs to pull his socks up, but there were times last season when he was simply abused on defense by point guards looking to set cutters up, as he went to sleep far too easily.

The biggest spotlight in basketball is not going to make things easy for him, but a reduced role and increased focus on defense may just bring a side of Kuzma out that we haven't seen yet.