For those who voraciously consume NBA updates on social media, it's almost difficult to believe that Kyle Kuzma still plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. With his name seemingly brought up in every mock trade scenario conceivable over the past two years, Kuzma remains as the third-leading scorer on a squad with the best record in the Western Conference. Now, with the 2020 trade deadline looming, Kuzma reflects on the oddity that was the '19 deadline in a story by Bill Oram of The Athletic:

“That was a weird day,” Kuzma said. “Before trade deadline it was weird, you knew something was going to happen but you didn’t know what was going to happen. But like after the deadline it was like you’ve got to play a game.”

Kuzma was one of the names highly rumored to be involved in a possible deal that would have swung the club Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. Of course, a deal wasn't made until this past summer, one in which the Lakers held firm and kept Kuzma within their own ranks, set to play alongside Davis.

As Kyle Kuzma has seen his scoring average dip in his third professional year, the buzz around his status with the team has grown loud once again. Could he be moved this year for a veteran presence who may help assure the team a championship come June? Perhaps, but he's not thinking about it:

“I consumed it more last year,” Kuzma said. “This year is different I don’t care at all, but last year it was new and foreign, so it was like more of a can’t-really-escape-it thing. But for me it’s a little bit easier now.”

The trade deadline is on Feb. 6. The Lakers are currently 34-9.