In a rather surprising claim, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma said that Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart were all ‘excited' to be traded to the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason.
The Lakers traded Ingram, Ball and Hart along with three first-round picks to the Pelicans in exchange for superstar big man Anthony Davis. The blockbuster June deal ended what had been a long, winding saga in Hollywood that saw the Purple and Gold deal with injuries and chemistry issues.
While it wasn't the ending that Kuzma wanted — admitting that he had always thought the Lakers were building around their young core — the 24-year-old rising star pointed out that his now former teammates were actually happy to move to New Orleans and get a fresh start where there is less pressure.
“They were excited,” Kuzma said of Ingram, Ball and Hart after the trade, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “It's a little bit less pressure. They didn't [actually] say that. But obviously being in L.A., there's more pressure. They can be themselves now. They can go to New Orleans and develop into the superstars they were supposed to be.”
Ingram, Ball and Hart join a young Pelicans team that boasts plenty of potential, especially with the addition of 2019 top overall pick Zion Williamson and lottery selection Jaxson Hayes. The ex-Lakers trio have a chance to be the leader of the rising squad that aims to speed up their rebuild and make the playoffs sooner rather than later.
Kuzma has been in full support of the three even after the trade. In fact, he recently said that Ingram, Ball and Hart are in an “unbelievable” situation in New Orleans and emphasized that they can grow as players with the Pelicans.
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