Kyle Kuzma Rumors: Kings Gaining 'Plenty of Momentum' as Landing Spot for Wizards FA
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly considered strong players to land forward Kyle Kuzma in free agency.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Kuzma-to-Sacramento is gaining "plenty of momentum" on the heels of Kuzma opting out of the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards and becoming a free agent.
Per Fischer, the Kings are projected to have over $25 million in salary-cap space to work with toward a deal with Kuzma even if they sign All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis to a new contract and re-sign forward Trey Lyles as expected.
The 27-year-old Kuzma spent the past two seasons in Washington after playing four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers to start his career.
He, along with Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, was traded to the Wizards for guard Russell Westbrook, but Fischer reported that Kuzma was almost traded to the Kings before that deal went down.
If the Kings are indeed circling back on Kuzma, they stand to potentially land him on the heels of a career year.
In 64 games last season, Kuzma averaged a career-high 21.2 points, 3.7 assists and 2.5 three-pointers made per contest, plus he averaged 7.2 rebounds and shot 44.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
With Sabonis and guard De'Aaron Fox leading the way last season, Sacramento went 48-34 and ended the NBA's longest playoff drought, as the team hadn't reached the postseason since 2006.
Along with Sabonis and Fox, the Kings also had a strong supporting cast comprised of All-Rookie Team member Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Malik Monk and Davion Mitchell.
All of them besides Barnes are under contract for next season, and if Barnes does leave in free agency, Kuzma would represent an upgrade in terms of being younger and more productive.
Kuzma would likely slot in as the No. 3 scoring option in Sacramento behind Fox and Sabonis, and that could be the sweet spot for his NBA role moving forward.
He was essentially in the same role last season with the Wizards alongside Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porziņģis, and his results individually were spectacular.
The Western Conference is stacked, led by the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets, but a core of Fox, Sabonis and Kuzma would give the Kings a strong chance to go on a deep playoff run next season.
