Kyle Kuzma was traded to the Wizards as part of the Russell Westbrook trade. though the forward believed he was headed to Sacramento.
Shortly before the Westbrook deal was announced, it was reported that the Kings were closing in a deal that would have sent Buddy Hield to the Lakers in exchange for Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell.
“I was kind of shocked because I thought I was going to Sac,” Kuzma said of being traded to the Wizards (via an appearance on No Chill With Gilbert Arenas). “The Sacramento deal with Buddy Hield, that s–t was done. So I’m thinking in my head, ‘Yeah, okay, well, I’m in Sac, 45-minute flight, that’s not bad.’ … But then out of nowhere, it goes, ‘You’re going to Washington.’”
The three Lakers were instead sent to the Wizards along with a first-round pick (became Aaron Holiday and Isaiah Todd after looping Indiana into the five-team trade).
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Frank Ntilikina is drawing interest from Italian club Virtus Bologna, according to a report from BasketNews.com. Ntilikina, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 draft, is a free agent after the Knicks renounced his rights last month.
- The Rockets recently worked out Monta Ellis and Gerald Green, according to Kelly Iko and Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic. Ellis last played in the NBA during the 2016-17 season while Green spent the 2019-20 season on the sideline for Houston because of a broken foot.
- Davis Bertans is highly unlikely to be traded any time soon, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. Katz cites Bertans’ remaining four years and $65 million on his contract as well as the fact that Washington’s 2023 first-round pick belongs with the Thunder and is protected through 2026, which limits the Wizards’ ability to attach a pick to him in order to upgrade.
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