Kuzma's regret in denying dream Mavericks trade grows rapidly with latest rumor

Last season, it was clear that the Dallas Mavericks needed to make a move at the trade deadline to solidify their frontcourt ahead of the playoff push.

Mark Cuban made it known that Dallas was looking to trade for a forward that was at least six-eight and could create for themselves and others off the dribble, and that fit the description of Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma perfectly.

Cuban said this a few days after a report dropped which indicated that Dallas had registered interest in Kuzma. It seemed like the stars were aligning for Kuzma to become a Maverick in front of his eyes, but he turned down the deal that Washington presented to him which would have sent him to Dallas.

He didn't think that the Mavs were elite championship contenders, and he wanted to remain with the Wizards where he had played the previous two and a half seasons.

Kyle Kuzma's desire to join the Mavericks comes a year too late

Kuzma's former intention to remain with the Wizards has seemed to disappear as he has been in plenty of trade rumors this season, and his regret in joining the Mavs has seemed to have grown to new heights.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Kuzma wants to be traded to the Mavericks this season.

"By all indications, he has a lot of interest in going to Dallas," Fischer said.

Fischer continued to say that it seems unlikely that the Mavs would trade multiple role players to make a trade for Kuzma work, and his desire to join the Mavs is coming a year too late. If he would have had wanted to be traded to Dallas last season, the deal would have almost assuredly gone through. The opportunity was right in front of him, but he passed up on it, and he is paying for it now.

It has already been reported that the Mavs aren't interested in trading for Kuzma this season, and he has to be deeply regretting his decision from last season. He would have been able to be a key piece and starter for a true contender, but he decided to stay with the Wizards who have only won five games this season.

Having an executive present a trade offer to the player they are thinking about trading doesn't happen too often, and Kuzma is likely wishing that Washington would have just made the trade and sent him to the Mavs.

Dallas trading for Kuzma would have changed everything for them as they likely wouldn't have traded for P.J. Washington and or Daniel Gafford, and Mavs fans should be glad that Kuzma didn't want to be a Maverick at the time. Both Washington and Gafford were crucial pieces in Dallas' run to the NBA Finals last season, and the Mavs wouldn't have been able to make as deep of a run if they had Kuzma rather than Washington and Gafford.

Kuzma's name should be monitored over the next month considering the trade rumors that surround him, but it doesn't look like the Mavs will be indulging in any of that despite Kuzma's interest in teaming up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.