"He's going to the Lakers" - NBA fans erupt with Kyle Kuzma reportedly being traded by Wizards

Kyle Kuzma has been put on the trading block by the Washington Wizards after playing with the team since 2021, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Trading away Kuzma could help boost the Wizards’ desire to tank for next year’s top overall pick, which has been projected to be Cooper Flagg.

Per Stein, there is an increased belief among teams that the Wizards are actively shopping Kuzma in the trade market ahead of the trade deadline:

“The rising belief leaguewide is that the Wizards are eager to find a trade partner for Kuzma at some point during the next six-plus weeks ... and that Kuzma would want to depart this time with the 4-22 Wizards scarcely even trying to be competitive heading into the loaded 2025 NBA Draft.”

The former NBA champion is one of several veterans on the rebuilding Wizards. He has been in trade rumors since last season as the Wizards moved on from former franchise star Bradley Beal.

NBA fans have since expressed their predictions on where Kuzma would land in the next few weeks. Some said that he would be snagged by a contending team looking for its missing piece, while others suggested that he return to the LA Lakers.

“He’s going to the lakers,” one fan said.

“He Will be a Knicks,” another fan said.

“you’re lucky if you get kuminga for him🤣,” a fan wrote.

Other fans discredited Kuzma’s value for a winning team, recalling the time he denied a trade to the Dallas Mavericks, whose squad reached the NBA finals the previous season.

“Kyle Kuzma is not a winning player. He refused to go to the Mavericks 1-2 years ago, and it’s coming back to bite him,” a fan said.

“Kuzma is a me-first player who doesn’t care about winning. For all his individual talent he does not contribute to a winning culture. Just trying to get his points and get paid,” another fan said.

“No one wants a player who has a sub 50% TS (true shooting) 😂😂😂😂😂,” a fan wrote.

Kuzma has only played 12 games this season as he is dealing with a rib injury. He is averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting a career-low 27.6 percent from the 3-point range.

Kyle Kuzma stands with his decision to deny trade to Dallas last year

Kyle Kuzma called off a deal to the Dallas Mavericks last year, extending his stint with the Wizards. Kuzma looked back at that decision last October in an interview with Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

Robbins asked Kuzma if he ever regretted denying a trade to Dallas last year despite seeing them in the finals.

“Absolutely not. A big part of the Mavericks becoming who they were was getting an extra center and a forward. If I would’ve went there, that wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

The Mavericks instead got PJ Washington and former Wizards Daniel Gafford, bolstering their lineup ahead of the playoffs.