Kyle Kuzma is suiting up for the Washington Wizards this season, but there was a moment when he thought the Los Angeles Lakers were trading him to the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers reportedly discussed a potential deal with Sacramento involving Kuzma and sharpshooter Buddy Hield. However, Los Angeles opted to include Kuzma as part of the five-team blockbuster deal for Russell Westbrook instead.
"I was kind of shocked because I thought I was going to Sac," Kuzma said on a recent episode of "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas." "Like the Sacramento deal with Buddy Hield, that shit was done. So I'm thinking in my head, like, 'OK, well, I'm in Sac, 45-minute flight. That's not bad. I can go to Napa.'
"But then, like out of nowhere, you're going to Washington."
While Kuzma didn't end up where he expected, the former first-round pick is looking forward to playing in the nation's capital.
"I was super hyped, obviously, because it's a better situation," Kuzma said. "Going to Sac would have been fun. I would have went crazy for sure, that's how I think. But to have an opportunity to play with Brad Beal - someone that is trying to really be a winner in this league ... he's a killer man."
Kuzma added, "It's just a perfect opportunity. It's a lot of guys that have chips on their shoulders. Everyone's ready to prove something. That's when something could be special."
Kuzma spent the first four seasons of his career with the Lakers, including the club's 2019-20 championship campaign. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 boards while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc over 68 appearances last season.
The 26-year-old averaged a career-high 18.7 points just two years ago and could see a more prominent role in the Wizards' offense.
