A number of teams have expressed interest in Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, but general manager Tommy Sheppard considers him a cornerstone of Washington’s future, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
League sources tell Charania that the Hawks and Suns have both reached out to the Wizards about a potential Kuzma trade. Washington had interest in Atlanta forward John Collins and the teams engaged in serious discussions about a deal during the offseason, Charania adds.
However, Sheppard indicated that he’s committed to keeping Kuzma, who has meshed with Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis in their first full season together. Kuzma is averaging a career-high 20.6 PPG this season, and he seems to have reached another level since being acquired from the Lakers during the summer of 2021.
“We’ve had great respect for Kyle since he’s been in the league,” Sheppard said. “He had a great rookie season, being in the Rookie of the Year conversation, and then life changed when LeBron (James) came. So when the trade happened, it allowed Kyle an opportunity to join our program, have a bigger role, start for us, and he has been outstanding. Kyle has such a great personality and demeanor, and he has so much more room to grow in the future for us. We’re really excited for his future growth here.”
Kuzma is almost certain to turn down his $13MM player option for next season and test free agency. Charania hears from rival executives that Kuzma’s next contract could start in the $20MM to $25MM range.
Kuzma touches on several topics during an interview with Charania, including:
Why his game blossomed after being traded to Washington:
“Being in this situation helped out a lot. Here, I’m not playing behind LeBron and (Anthony Davis). Those guys are my position, my type of player, who I am, my style. So coming here, I don’t have that anymore. It’s been great because me, Brad and KP don’t get in each other’s way. We all just flow out there. It’s been a pretty good jell for the first 20 games. We’re all averaging 20 a game without having any friction out there.”
His current contract, which has him somewhat underpaid at $13MM:
“I definitely did the Lakers a little favor to have the hometown discount. I always appreciate (Lakers vice president of basketball operations) Rob Pelinka for the deal that he gave me, because it gave me security and it gave me a player option. I was one of the few players in NBA history without being a lottery pick to have a player option in an extension. Everything has worked out in my favor from signing that deal to my progression as a player to this summer too.”
The state of the Wizards’ locker room after chemistry issues last season:
“If you look at our team last year, we were so up and down, because we didn’t like each other. … This year, yeah, we’re still working through some things, but we have a genuine group, an authentic group. We actually like each other.”
Figuring out how to play alongside Beal and Porzingis:
“We’re approaching it every day. For us, we have to keep pushing it, and we have to exhaust each other. We have to make everyone else better. That’s our next step. When we can make other guys better on our team, it will make our job so much easier. We all want to win and we want to make those around us better. I’m a champion. I’ve been at the highest level and played in some of the highest games in the championship. I’ve learned the game of basketball from probably the greatest player of all time, so I have a lot of knowledge in the way that I play, the way that I see the game. It’s all because of my past.”
He’s never lacked confidence in himself.
Nobody is gonna offer a package worth trading Kuzma for. Wizards are good to pray on Beal & KP’s long term health, sign Kuzma, hope for the best out of Kispert, Gafford, Goodwin, Hachimura, J.Davis, Avdija. They can have a strong season & build on it going into next. Maybe a minor trade deadline deal this season, but I doubt it. Health could dictate otherwise.
Considering he will turn down his player option and hit FA, you already know he’s going to want 20-25 mil if not more. I’d trade him if there’s something worth getting back.
I’d try Kuzma and bits for something like RJ Hampton and Mo Bamba. Maybe you can make that deal. Maybe try for OG if he available.
That’s horrible. Kuzma for Hampton and Bamba? Stop.
Disagree, Kuzma is just a volume shooter that’s not efficient. He’s averaging 17 shot attempts per game which is more than Bradley Beal. More than Jokic, Zion, KAT, Halliburton and so on. He’s 30% from 3 this season of 7 attempts, 33% on his career. 74% from the FT line. The 8 rebounds he’s averaging is nice tho.
Kuzma is a bench player that’s been giving the lead on offence and is therefore having good stats. He’s not good defensively, he’s definitely not a leader and he’s not really young and up and coming at 27 now.
RJ is 21, I love his size at 6’6, he’s a more efficient shooter on much less attempts. He’s a good passer, he works hard in training trying to improve. He plays some defence and there’s definitely room to improve his overall game. Mo Bamba again is a more efficient shooter on less attempts, and a much much better defender. Hes also younger only 24 and will continue to improve. He’s getting less minutes than he did last season but that’s mainly cause Orlando has a much of bigs.
RJ Beal Barton KP Mo Bamba
Morris Avidja Kispert Hachimura Gafford
Monte resumes his bench role that he was so good at for the nuggets. Barton moves into being a starter and 3rd scoring option. Beal gets more touches with Kuzma, Mo and KP form a very tall front court and make finishing in and around the paint very difficult.
It’s just an idea I’m not even sure if the magic would be keen on adding another shooter especially an inefficient one like Kuzma when they have Paolo Franz and Bol who play the forward spots. I just definitely wouldn’t be extending Kuzma. He’s having a career year cause he’s talking more shots than anybody but he’s not doing it efficiently and it’s not resulting in wins
He’s worth 20-25 easily considering the bad players being paid around 20.
Give it 6-12 months and he will be just another of those bad players getting around 20 as you say
I remember when all those Lakers fans couldn’t wait to trade Kuzma and wanted him gone.
Ironically, he’s exactly the type of guys they’re missing in order to get over the hump.
Lonnie Walker has helped alot since he’s turned it around after his slow start, but they could still certainly use another 3&D wing that’s also capable of handling the ball.
Either way, I’ve always like Kuzma, and thought his skills have been underappreciated. If he doesn’t stay in Washington, then I hope he’s able to go to a contending team, and hopefully he’s able to continue thriving there as well.
Well said
Kuzma was the scapegoat for any time things didn’t go the lakers way- And ofc Posters here who just don’t watch nba games
Always felt the same, 55 more healthy games and he nets a 100+ mill , good for him
* kinda like a Cha ink w him , think LaMelo would work well with a buncha guys like Kuz ( hybrid F ) that run , gun , and can stretch / shoot -they can probably ink him and Myles Turner next year with a little shuffling at this years deadline , that be a fun team with some upside
They need a lot more than kuzma.
Beal >>>>> to the Knicks ….
And Washington should be happy to be rid of that ridiculous contract
Kuzma is hardly a 3 and D wing, he’s a career 33% from 3 and this year 30%.
Russ is 30% from 3 for his career and he gets slandered for his shooting