Kyle Kuzma's future with the Washington Wizards has been a major talking point in the past few weeks and months, and the buzz around his situation only increased after the team traded Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers.

It is expected that Kuzma will decline his $13 million player option for next season and explore free agency, raising questions about his commitment with Washington. If the Wizards get any indication that he's going to leave them in the offseason, they could be motivated to move him at the deadline to avoid losing him for nothing. While the team has expressed confidence that it can keep Kuzma, there is nothing guaranteed in the NBA.

Nonetheless, if you're going to ask Kuzma himself, the veteran scorer emphasized that he loves playing in Washington and sees himself staying in the nation's capital long-term.

“For sure. One hundred percent,” Kuzma said when asked if he sees himself staying with the Wizards, per The Athletic. “They showed me love. They have allowed me to have a platform to show my game and show the league I’m not just a role player. I'm someone that's arriving right now. That's the biggest thing for me.

“I want to keep elevating. Having a leadership position, having somewhere where I’m developing and playing my game and my role and I'm getting better every single game — that's what I care about.”

Wizards fans will certainly love that statement from Kyle Kuzma. The 27-year-old has transformed himself into a legitimate starter and impact player for Washington, and it's definitely great to hear his desire to stay.

However, that also means that the ball is on the Wizards' court now. Kuzma wants to stay, but that comes with showing him love by paying him. The team has the willingness to do that, but the bigger question is up to what extent.