- Report: Kyrie Irving has maintained interest in Lakers as they emerge as potential suitors alongside Mavericks and Suns
- Report: Lakers no longer trying to preserve cap space for 2023 free agency
- Report: Lakers believe they’re 1 move away from being legitimate title contenders
- Report: Lakers have had exploratory trade talks involving Russell Westbrook with Jazz
- Report: Teams still want 1st-round pick to take on Russell Westbrook’s contract
- Anthony Davis implies Lakers want to finish 6th seed or higher: ‘We don’t wanna be in the play-in tournament’
- Patrick Beverley goes after Tyrese Haliburton after Lakers beat Pacers
- Shannon Sharpe announces he will be in attendance for Lakers-Thunder game
- Draymond Green explains why LeBron James is the greatest face of the NBA ever
- Austin Reaves only sees 2 similarities between him and Alex Caruso: ‘We’re guys that played on the Lakers, and we’re white’
Report: Buddy Hield, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell were ‘blindsided’ when Kings and Lakers trade fell through
- Updated: July 30, 2021
The Los Angeles Lakers punted on their trade discussions with the Sacramento Kings and agreed to a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook on Thursday.
However, Kings guard Buddy Hield and Wizards newcomers Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell were surprised by the rapid action that unfolded.
a couple of tidbits on the Lakers from Lowe: pic.twitter.com/kcJ3lXIGT6
— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) July 30, 2021
“Almost everyone that I could talk to that was involved in the potential Buddy Hield-Kings trade was kind of blindsided when it fell apart at the end,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported on his podcast.
The Lakers were in on talks to acquire Hield ahead of the draft.
As a matter of fact, they reportedly added their prized 2021 first-round pick to strengthen their offer. The Kings had the choice of picking between Kuzma or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
According to Jason Jones of The Athletic, all the players involved in the Kings-Lakers talks believed the trade was going to happen.
“League sources said all the players involved in the much-discussed Lakers-Kings deal expected that trade to happen,” Jones wrote.
Yet, things appeared to fizzle out as the draft got closer.
Then, the Lakers agreed to send Kuzma, Harrell and Caldwell-Pope and the No. 22 pick to the Wizards for Westbrook and two future second-round picks.
On Friday, Kuzma thanked the Lakers in a classy social media post.