After spending the first four years of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, forward Kyle Kuzma is heading to the capital to play for the Washington Wizards in the 2021-22 season. But it turns out that this wasn’t part of Kuzma’s plans early in the preseason as he was preparing for a stay in California.
Speaking on the No Chill With Gilbert Arenas podcast, Kuzma revealed that he was convinced the Lakers would trade him to the Sacramento Kings. The deal involved Buddy Hield heading in the opposite direction, and according to Kuzma, it was as good as done.
“I was kind of shocked, because I thought I was going to Sac,” said Kuzma. “Like the Sacramento deal with Buddy Hield, that was done. So I’m thinking in my head, like, ‘OK, Sac, 45-minute flight. That’s not bad. I can go to Napa.'”
The Lakers decided to pull the plug on the Kings agreement at the last moment and instead opted to include Kuzma in a trade that landed them All-Star guard Russell Westbrook from the Wizards. But it wasn’t like Kuzma was complaining.
“But then, out of nowhere, you’re going to Washington. I was super hyped because it’s a better situation,” he added. He then explained that he’s excited he’ll get to play with an All-NBA player like Bradley Beal.
Kyle Kuzma had a strong start of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, going from a late first-round pick out of Utah to one of the team’s key weapons on the offense in his rookie and sophomore year. But following the arrival of LeBron James and later Anthony Davis, Kuzma failed to carve a role for himself on the Lakers. His numbers started to drop to the point that he lost his starting place on the team and became dispensable.
Kuzma will now hope to resurrect his career with the Wizards, where he is expected to have a more expanded role and less competition.
