Following up on a report from The Athletic which cited Wizards sources who suggested that the team’s asking price for Kyle Kuzma may be “somewhat overblown,” Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack story that the Washington forward is a trade candidate worth keeping a close eye on in the final week leading up to the February 8 trade deadline.
According to Stein, while the Kings and Mavericks are the suitors most frequently linked to Kuzma, there will likely be other suitors due to his “offensive versatility and favorable contract.” Kuzma is owed more than $64MM for the three seasons beyond this one, but his cap hits decline over the life of the deal, so he’ll count for just $19.4MM toward team salary by 2026/27.
Stein confirms that the Mavericks have consistently conveyed interest in Kuzma and notes that he’s not the only Wizards player Dallas has had its eye on. The team has also made previous runs at center Daniel Gafford and forward Deni Avdija, per Stein.
Here are a few more items of interest from Stein’s latest round-up of trade rumors:
- While Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, and Talen Horton-Tucker continue to be described as potential trade candidates, Collin Sexton may not belong in that group, according to Stein, who hears from league sources that the Jazz guard is a longer shot to be dealt. Sexton is playing some of the best basketball of his career in the 27 games since he entered Utah’s starting lineup in mid-December, averaging 21.6 points and 5.5 assists in 27.4 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .506/.420/.879.
- The Raptors haven’t lowered their asking price for Bruce Brown and continue to seek a first-round pick for the veteran guard, Stein says. It’s typically difficult to extract a first-rounder for a role player on an expiring contract, but Brown does have a $23MM team option for 2024/25, so if a potential suitor views him as a two-season investment, it’s possible Toronto gets the draft pick it’s seeking.
- The Celtics continue to peruse the trade market for a frontcourt addition, but they’re only willing to move players on “the most nominal contracts,” Stein writes. Outside of Boston’s usual starting five, Al Horford and Payton Pritchard are the only players earning more than the veteran’s minimum, so it sounds like those seven players will likely be off-limits.
- In case you missed it, we passed along some Nets-related tidbits from Stein on Thursday evening.
These teams know they are afraid to trade for Kuz…
Afraid of What? Kuzma is instant 20+ points
Yet nobody has acquired him after all the trade hype?
Wizards best player will need a great trade package for him is why nobody has bite at a trade.
Teams aren’t serious. They claim they wanna improve but do nothing. Bunch of yapping with no action.
Celtics dont need more talent, they need a real coach.
Totally. If they had a real coach they’d be like 47 and 2 bro.
Charles Barkley says they have no heart. The coach is a robot so that makes sense. =)
Barkley is right about the Celtics having no heart. The home losses are piling up, after that 20-0 start. That’s exactly what has doomed them, the past few seasons, dropping inexcusable home games. They play with MUCH more heart on the road. And yes, they absolutely need a real Head Coach. Fire Mazzulla and sign Budenholzer.
what was their record last season? How did that turn out…bro. Didnt Miami come into Boston and own them with Joe M. as coach? Just curious, what was the Celtics record at this point last season? Oh yeah, it was awesome as well. How did that turn out again? I forget, bro.
Last time I checked, Celtics are 1-5 against the top teams in the league including being blown out at home by Los Angeles Clips, Lakers and the Nuggets.
Doesnt sound good…bro.
Celtics need a coach, not a buddy who encourages them to jack up 40 3s a game and then claims everyone else is failing to see the math of it all.
I am a Celtic fan, and even I can see they are soft.
Ok, “soft,” likely, without Smart, that makes sense. And our Coach has shown he will throw in the towel. So who does, can, President Brad Stevens get in the next 4 days get who will toughen up this team? Or is that asking too much? Myself, I’ll take this team to toughen up on their own over the 2nd half, but … let’s see if Stevens makes a move. It wouldn’t hurt I’d say. Go Celtics!
Bruce for Okongwu and Patty Mills with a first / Bruce Brown for Bertans, Jaylin Williams and a 2024 first. Bruce for Rui, Prince & a first.
Brown is not worth that. But we shall see.
Not worth it to you. Stop crying to remove my comment.
Be a good move for the Thunder. They have so many first round picks at some stage you need to start moving them. Salary dump Bertans and Brown is legitimately someone that could push you over the top in a playoff run.
I don’t like any of the offers except for OKC. I wouldn’t do OO AND a 1st. LAL needs the depth and size of the two they’re giving, plus think they’d want to get someone more impactful for the last 1st they can trade in a while. At first, I thought it was for Jalen W (I always mix them up), but for Jaylin W and the rest added from OKC I’d take that.
Yea Jaylin who comes off the bench for OKC yes…hawks lack vision they deserved to get screwed in a deal.
Wiz send kuz gafford to mavs for holmes grant williams and 2027 1st. Mavs send thj to a 3rd team for a 1st and send that 1st to wiz
Awful, for kuzma and gafford = only one 1st pick in 20s to 30s range?
Wtf, Kuzma will fetch at least 2 1st’s and some filler and Gafford can fetch at least a 1st and filler. No way Wizards make that deal
Wtf, Kuzma will fetch at least 2 1st’s and some filler and Gafford can fetch at least a 1st and filler. No way Wizards make that deal
You clearly don’t understand basketball. That 2027 1st becomes extremely valuable if luka leaves. Wizards won’t Contend for at least 2 more seaons, In 2027 gafford will be gone and kuzma will be 32 and be an expiring contract. Not only that you can get another 1st from THJ and mavs can throw in Toronto early 2nd rounder
In addition wizards also create ~35m extra cap space in 2 seasons. With that being said, get a max player some good young rookies over the next 2-3 seasons and then they can contend. And if luka leaves they get another top 10 pick while they are already Contenders.
Washington waives D Wright. Then Dallas offers Grant Williams, Holmes, Lively, Maxi, Hardy and Prosper with a 1st pick and 2nds for Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Gafford, Gill and Kispert. Washington trades Poole, G Williams and Bagley somewhere and rebuilds. Washington builds around Livers
Dallas adds Josh Green and cash
Washington waives delon just for dallas to sign him? Haha
I didn’t say that….. They could I suppose. I think this works well for both teams but is unlikely. I thought someone would laugh at building the team around Livers
Troll, Who said about building livers?
Do you know a guy named bilal? corey? deni?
I will trade delon for luka
Bro is everything okay? Why can you not read? It is a joke son . Don’t be a troll
WSH doesn’t need to trade Kuzma right now to realize maximum trade value on him. That is likely reflected in the ask.
Anyone else wonder why the team that just signed Brown, traded him halfway into the season? They certainly paid him well enough to say they thought he was worth it. Def a confusing message they’re saying about him.
Then Toronto, instead of keeping Brown, as part of their rebuild, instantly wants to hear offers as well? Seems they only wanted his trade value. Have to wonder if maybe that big contract got to his head?
Would say it’s more about Indiana’s and Toronto’s situations than a reflection on Brown himself.
The Pacers couldn’t turn down the opportunity to turn him into a two-time All-NBA forward. Brown is good, but he’s not Siakam.
The Raptors aren’t the sort of contender that would benefit most from Brown’s skill set and won’t become that kind of team by the time his contract is up, so makes sense to see what they could get for him.
That’s kinda what I suspected. Just making sure there’s no other issues, in case say the Jazz send a pick their way. =)
What’s kind of interesting is I have the same question about D Murray
Why did SAs let him go ( trade) with wide open cap space avail
Why has his welcome been so short w Atl
This isn’t the norm for even quasi all stars in the league ….. I’d want to look deep under that hood before buying that car