Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma learned of the massive acquisition of Anthony Davis during his stay in China alongside manager Vin Sparacio, who was there with him for business-related activities. The trade sent three of his closest friends in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to the New Orleans Pelicans, a move that required his utmost attention, even if it was on the other side of the world:

“It's like 3 a.m., I'm asleep, he ran into my room and damn near threw water on me,” Kuzma told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.

Kuzma recalls the talk former president Magic Johnson had with this young core shortly after the trade deadline passed, but the lengthy wing knew the potential was in the cards, though lamenting his partnership with Ball, Ingram and Hart had to come to an abrupt end:

“Really, they told all of us,” Kuzma said of the Lakers not wanting to part with their former first-round picks. “They didn't want to trade none of us, obviously. We were a great young group of guys that had a lot of promise. Anytime you got three, four young guys as a core in the NBA, you don't want to trade those guys. But you have an opportunity to get a generational talent, stuff is bound to happen.”

“I thought that we made some growth over the two years together. Obviously, a lot of people didn't necessarily see it because of injuries — BI, Zo not really playing a lot of games over the past two years. But when we played together and we were on the court together, good things happened.”

Those three will get to develop in a rebuilding New Orleans, away from the bright lights of Staples Center, while Kuzma will get the chance to play with two of the best players of this era in LeBron James and Davis, now bound for a lot more than just playoff expectations.