The Wizards have informed teams with interest in Kyle Kuzma that they intend to hang onto the veteran forward through Thursday’s deadline, reports Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Kuzma’s name surfaced frequently in trade rumors in recent weeks because the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA and several playoff contenders, including Dallas and Sacramento, have been scouring the market for a power forward. However, Washington’s asking price was said to be high, with the club reportedly seeking multiple first-round picks.
Additionally, there’s no urgency for the Wizards to do anything with Kuzma at this point, since he’s in the first season a four-year contract he signed last summer.
That deal has a declining salary structure, so even though the 28-year-old is earning $25.6MM this season, his cap hit will dip to $19.4MM by 2026/27, potentially making him an even more appealing trade target down the road.
As Stein reported earlier today, Kuzma also hasn’t sought a change of scenery, having expressed a preference to remain in D.C. for the time being. That stance factored into the Wizards’ reluctance to move him, Stein notes.
Although the Wizards have the NBA’s second-worst record (9-41), Kuzma has been having perhaps his best season as a pro, averaging new career bests in points (21.9) and assists (4.2) per game, with a 45.5% field goal percentage that’s just off his career high.
The Mavericks, the team that had been most frequently linked to Kuzma, is believed to have pivoted to Hornets forward P.J. Washington.
Just trade tyus, wright, shamet, and davis
I just saw the salaries for the Wizards and these have been some awful contracts that were handed out. Kuzma is not going to help this team contend within the service time of his contract (another 3 years). Why wouldn’t they try and unload his contract and get a pick out of it? Wizards are in the same boat as Pistons, just fewer young and talented players. Absolutely no sense in direction with this team. Just bad contracts all around on that roster.
Also no urgency? This is coming from a franchise that has NOT gotten to 50 wins in a single season since 1978? Absolute trash mindset from this front office.
Funny thing is that nobody asked.
What picks? 30’s?
And they wonder why they suck year after year. So poorly ran. Trade the guy and get some good assets for building for the future.
Tyus Jones for Fultz
Deni Avdija, D Wright(waive) and Gill(waive) for Keldon Johnson and Bassey
Or Keldon Johnson and Bassey with a future pick swap or a protected pick for Wright(waive), Bilal(SG), Johnny Davis(turn to a PG) and Baldwin(SF)
The Spurs Vassel and Collins contracts will be horrible next year(pulling a Poole move)
Wizards don’t have a franchise player on their roster now. Atleast Detroit, San Antonio, Charlotte all have young talented franchise players to build around….
Wizards are planning on building around Kuzma and Devi????
Coulibaly looks really good, which you’d know if you knew anything about the team. He’s a talented wing defender who can shoot, create his own shot, and attack in both the half court and transition. He’s their building block. Sure, he’s not as obviously talented as Cade or Miller, but he’s younger and never played in college, just overseas. And the Pistons and Hornets have been rebuilding longer than the Wizards have. It’s the first year of their rebuild.
Kispert is also a clear either building block or trade chip. Guys with his shooting touch are rare. 42% last year on a team that didn’t do a great job of getting him open. Imagine how he’d play on a team that actually functions.
Avdija has taken enough of a step forward to be a valuable trade piece. And Kuzma’s contract means he can be traded easily in the offseason or next year also.
With Kuzma, if nobody was willing to give them an offer they thought was far, it makes sense to hold on to him and work out a trade in the offseason or before next year’s deadline.
Shamet’s contract was from the Suns. Poole’s from the Warriors. They acquired them to benefit their returns in otherwise mediocre trades (getting more picks). Shamet isn’t without value, though his contract does limit it. Poole… nobody predicted he’d become *this* bad. It made sense at the time.
Also, if you trade *every* half-decent player on the roster, you end up sucking like the Pistons do. Tyus, Wright, Davis, Gafford, and Avdija are likely to return some decent value, either now or next season. Gafford is a genuinely good Center, and Avdija has taken steps forward across the board this year. He’s just better overall. A cheaper Bruce Brown, with more length and strength, is what he looks like right now. That’s a valuable commodity.
kuzma comes down to its cheaper to keep him. unless a team is going to over pay for him why trade a guy on a middle contract that gives you 20 a night.
No improvement just false hope for the wiz. Did nothing to utilize the duo of Beal and Wall and will do nothing to compliment Kuz and Poole. Joke of a franchise. Shouldn’t even be in the nations capital if they can’t build a contender.
They are moving to Alexandria, so that works.
I’m glad they’re not switching back to the Bullets. If Baltimore ever gets a team again then it can be used there.