A year ago, the Wizards gave Kyle Kuzma the option to approve a trade, and he elected not to join a Mavericks team that wound up in the NBA Finals. Kuzma hasn’t decided what he’ll do if he’s in the same situation this year, but he told Varun Shankar of The Washington Post that the front office hasn’t brought up the subject yet.
“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t know,” Kuzma said. “I think last year was the right time [to stay] after signing the deal. That was kind of more of a last year thing. We haven’t had conversations, haven’t even talked about the deadline, haven’t talked about getting traded. This is really the first time I’m really talking about it.”
Sunday’s loss at Sacramento was the 10th in the row for Washington, which sits at 6-35 and has the league’s worst record by a comfortable margin. Kuzma still has two years left on his contract, and he could bring a valuable return for a franchise that’s clearly prioritizing future assets over any current success.
Shankar notes that Kuzma has been experiencing an up-and-down season and has been limited to 24 games due to groin and rib injuries. He’s averaging just 14.4 points per game, which is down from 22.2 PPG last season and is by far his lowest mark since coming to Washington four years ago. Kuzma’s shooting has been abysmal, as he’s connecting at career lows from the field (42.5%) and three-point range (25.7%).
Even so, Shankar points out that Kuzma has trade value as a 6’10” defender who can play either forward position. He’s only 29, has played on a championship team and has a contract that declines in value, going from $23.5MM this season to $21.5MM next year and $19.4MM in 2026/27.
Kuzma has been a major part of the offense since joining the Wizards, but Shankar suggests that he might be best suited for a complementary role like he had with the Lakers early in his career. He averaged the fourth-most minutes and third-most shot attempts per game during L.A.’s title run in 2020.
In a session with the media before Sunday’s game, coach Brian Keefe was supportive of Kuzma and said the injuries have played a significant role in his decreased production.
“He had gotten some good momentum early and then he got hurt in the [Nov. 30] Atlanta game. And then he was building some momentum and he got hurt again. And then he missed almost a whole month,” Keefe said. “… It’s just been choppy. But when he’s played, he’s been efficient, doing the things that we ask. I just think he’s just had some inconvenient things that happened to him injury-wise that has … ruined his rhythm.”
That choppiness was on display this weekend, Shankar adds. Kuzma had one of his best games of the season Saturday at Golden State, scoring 22 points while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. However, he couldn’t carry that over to Sunday, as the Kings limited him to 13 points while shooting 3-of-15 overall and 1-of-7 from three-point range.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve been hurt like this,” Kuzma said. “I think it was frustrating at a certain point in time early on … but I’ve gotten over that. Kinda just here, playing game by game, trying to stay in the moment.”
i think the mavs gonna win the west. kuz might take them over the top
You dont know ball.
Trade him for Julius Randall
Highway robbery of a trade, makes Minny way way worse.
I cant think of a single player who is a starter who does not move the needle for any team more than Kuzma. Horrible defender, low IQ, turns the ball over too much, got paid big money this season and immediately dropped 8 points of his prior seasons PPG…the guy can’t do anything well.
Spurs should be calling for Kuzma. Maybe offer Keldon Johnson and a heavily protected 1st for Kuzma? Contracts are similar and it would give Spurs another shooter alongside Wemby, while Wizards get a decent piece for the future along side a top 3 pick this upcoming June.
PS – Don’t let Davey’s post above fool anyone. Kuzma’s contract declines every year and he’s taking 5 FGA fewer than last year, that is why his PPG is dropped. Once again he makes stuff up and doesn’t know any ball.
davey just likes to bash players for no reason. Kuzma been injured this year and in the right system he is a good second/third option player offensive player.
Arc I would say he’s the 3rd option on most title teams. Good player but he’s not a star player I don’t think. I agree with you that injuries are also a factor on his regression this season. I think Spurs offering Keldon Johnson would be beneficial for both teams and sets up Spurs nicely contractually before Wemby’s mega RFA offer happens after next year.
If the spurs offered a heavy protected 1st round pick and Johnson for Kuzma the bulls should go for it. Are the purs wanting to push it this year or wait until next year to go all out?
Do you mean the Wizards? I’m confused lol
sorry wizards
Anyone not on the Dubs are a target for Davey to be bashed regardless of how good or bad he is to the team
I don’t know when Kuzma grew to 6’10”, but (very) late growth spurts can happen in the NBA around the trade deadline. However, even the trade deadline can’t make him a defender, let alone a 2 position defender.
Kuz has value, no doubt, because he can score in the flow of almost any offense, and do it as a high IQ player that can hold his own at the 4 spot on the other end.