There’s plenty of interest in Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma as the NBA’s unofficial trade season begins this week, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Pincus cautions that Washington hasn’t decided to move Kuzma, but there’s a risk he’ll leave in free agency next summer if he declines his $13MM player option for 2023/24 as expected. General manager Tommy Sheppard recently indicated that the Wizards intend to re-sign Kuzma, but Pincus points out that the team already has two established scorers in Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis and is off to an 11-16 start.
Pincus adds that Kuzma could be one of the five best players on the free agent market and may become too expensive for Washington to keep.
“He wants out,” an NBA source said told Pincus. “He’s looking for over $20 million a season and in a big market (or with a contender).”
Pincus cites the Kings, who tried to trade for Kuzma in 2021 before the Lakers sent him to the Wizards, as a team to watch. Sacramento can’t unconditionally offer a first-rounder earlier than their 2028 pick, but Pincus believes a deal could be constructed around Harrison Barnes and either that future pick or a young prospect such as Davion Mitchell.
The Suns may see a Kuzma trade as a chance to finally unload Jae Crowder, Pincus notes, suggesting Crowder and Cameron Johnson, who is recovering from knee surgery, may be enough to get a deal done. Johnson will be a restricted free agent next summer, which would allow the Wizards to match any offer he might get.
Pincus also believes the Knicks have interest in Kuzma, who is represented by CAA, the former agency of team president Leon Rose. Obi Toppin could be the centerpiece of a deal, according to Pincus, who adds that New York has young players such as Immanuel Quickley and Cam Reddish to offer, along with a wealth of draft assets.
The Wizards aren’t trading Kuzma for any of the garbage you mentioned above. They would want an established Point Guard and or multiple draft picks. Like you said he will be a top 5 target in the trade/free agent market.
He will be a top 5 FREE AGENT. That means the Wiz get nothing if they don’t trade him. So they would be extremely lucky to get Cam Johnson and Jae, who could be flipped again.
The Wizards are 11-16. Are they going to turn it around this year? If not, they should trade Kuzma in the best deal they can make. He’s a rapidly depreciating asset; so the sooner they trade him, the more they will get.
Kuzma is not depreciating at all lol, his play is only improving, and bird rights will be important if he’s a top 5 free agent, every trade mentioned in this article is absurd that a basketball reporter would even put his name to it, not even a wizards fan and can see this is ludicrous, Kuzma is gonna cost and acquiring team unprotected first(s) not Jae crowder and Cam Johnson hahahahaha every trade cycle it’s like a bunch of nba fans completely disregard all other trade cycles “my team will get an above average player for our worst player in a trade” smh
Lakers? They would need to throw in PB and a draft pick. Kings? Don’t see a fit there. Seems to me this sport writer just threw every thing against the wall to see if something sticks.
Kuzma being a top 5 FA just means the market isn’t that appealing. He’s only a good scorer on a team without many options.
DC has plenty of options. Lakers had plenty of options smh why are yall like this?
Kuzma is not the best player on a team but he is a good second scorer for a team. Wizards are not going to trade him unless they get future picks back.
Idk maybe the Kings and Lakers were brought up because those are two teams…. WHO WERE LINKED TO KUZMA PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON?!? Crazy stuff
Derrick Jones Jr had arguably his best game as a Bull last night yet still managed to blow the fame twice. That’s as good a reason as any to ship him on out… Patrick Williams & DJJ for Kuzma… Kuz gets reunited with his lite-skin bff Lonzo in a big market. Chi gets an upgrade at forward. Javonte Green is better than DJJ anyway & this maybe gets more pt for Dalen Terry as well… DC gets a young high ceiling forward in Pat & a big time boost in athleticism
game*
Uh ‘lite-skin’? Wtf
Smh… link to m.youtube.com
I like this trade
I first thought, wow, I’d like Kyle Kuzma on our Celtics! Then, with more thought, nahh, we already have enough scorers.
I always thought the Lakers traded away their future with that trade, trading all their young placers for Anthony Davis. Still the Lakers won a title by that move. Celtics remain close but no cigar. Go Celtics!
They did win, but it’s a title that a lot of people don’t really recognize as legitimate.
Fixed it for ya
“They did win, but it’s a title that a lot of Lakers and/or LeBron haters don’t really recognize as legitimate.”
When is the last time that WSH (under this regime and the last one, spanning over 20 years) has made a trade where they gave up a valuable current player for future assets? I can’t think of one, despite plenty of chances. So, when Sheppard says they plan to re-sign (overpay) Kuzma, not trade him, I believe him.
Pincus has no clue. NYK would have no interest in Kuzma unless they’re moving Randle, and even then he’s not a fit. Yes, even though he’s represented by CAA.
Wizards NEED to move Kuzma.
Apparently he wants 20-25 mil he’s just simply not worth that at all.
Yes he is scoring 20 points per game bug he’s also taking 17 shots per game the most on the wizards team and it’s not even questionable Beal and KP are both much better players.
Everyone thinks of his as this shooter and scorer.
This season he’s shooting 30% from 3, that’s Russ’s career average and y’all love to call him out for shooting terribly.
Kuzma is what happens is actually good his stats are just inflated by the number of touches and shots he gets. Cam Reddish who I believe is worth a second round pick would put up the same number if given 30+ minutes and 17 shots per game and he would play better defence.
Out of all those deals I really like the Harrison Barnes and Daivon Mitchell one. Barnes is the perfect fit as the third choice behind Beal and Kp. He can score inside and out and is equally as happy to give you 13 points or 18 points per game whatever you want, he’ll do it. Daivon Mitchell is also a really good get. Really good defensively however really needs to improve on the offensive end but he has had flashes like dropping 28 on the suns or the 17 assists he had against the pelicans.
Beal has asked for better defenders for years and this gives him exactly that and paired with two really good offensive players in himself and KP, I think it would be a good step forward.
Pincus has no clue, Kings would be lunatic to let Davion Mitchell go away, an extremely speedy and explosive lefty 1 guard who can drive to the basket with ease, and also a very good defender who smothers opposing guards with his pressure, also a team first guy who is very young.
They have found a strong guard rotation with him, Fox, Huerter and T. Davis.
They are actually finding some success with a high octane offense and while turning heads after the longest playoff drought ever, fans finally have reasons to get excited.
Why would they change anything?
My thoughts exactly, I guess the thinking is Kuzma is a good young 3 and D wing and he and Murray are interchangeable at the forward spots. They can play faster if they go young and add Kuzmas scoring and shooting. However in reality Barnes is a better shooter than Kuzma and does so efficiently. He’s also a lot better defensively and losing both he and Mitchell would be terrible for their defence and they actually lose a bunch more games.
Idk I like the Wizards more than the Kings so I’d rather see them win this deal and not have to pay Kuzma. Mitchell Beal Barton Barnes KP pretty good starting 5. Mitchell and Barnes giving some defence. Beal and KP get a bunch more touches without Kuzma. Barton gets a bigger role now as a starter. Bench of Morris Kispert Avidja Hachimura Gafford which is alright too.
Kings could trade Barnes and 2 2nds to the Wizards for Kuzma. He is 3 yrs younger than Barnes.
Possible New Line Up :
=================
PF 6-9 Kuzma ….. 19pts / 8rbd / 2ast / 1blk
SF 6-8 Murray ….. 16pts / 5rbd / 1ast / 1blk
C 6-11 Sabonis ….. 18pts / 11rbd / 5ast / 1blk
SG 6-7 Huerter ….. 14pts / 3rbd / 3ast / 2stl
PG 6-3 Fox ….. 22pts / 3rbd / 7ast / 1stl
Nice looking trade for the Kings and fits with their timeline but Barnes and two seconds in return? Might not be enough.
Correction
Murray 12/4/1
Then you’ve just transferred over Kuzmas stats like he will continue that production.
Considering he’s currently averaging 18 shots per game you think we will walk into Sac and say okay I’m taking the most shots on this team now. His numbers will drop considerably to like 15 points per game as will the rebounds having a true centre like Sabonis there as will the assists.
Just for comparison say it’s Barnes and Mitchell for Kuzma as the article suggest.
That’s a combined
20.4 points per game vs 21.3 of Kuz
14.5 shot attempts vs 18 of Kuz
7 rebound vs 8
4.2 assists vs 3.6
1.5 steals vs 0.4
0.4 blocks each
2.5 turnovers vs 2.7
So yes Kuzma scores more but it’s 1 extra point on 4 more attempts. Slightly helps the rebounding but slightly worsens the playmaking, much less steals and overall defence and will give away much more turnovers for you.
But as I’ve said the minutes will stay relatively the same but once Kuzma comes the rest of the numbers will all floor dramatically across the board and you’ll be left with a FA you have to now pay too.
Very good points simmons. Good post.