Kyle Kuzma Trade Rumors: Mavs, Kings Interested in Wizards SF Ahead of 2024 Deadline

The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings have both shown interest in Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein reported the Kings have reached out to the Wizards, who are requesting at least two first-round picks for the 28-year-old.

Kuzma signed a four-year contract with Washington in the offseason, giving the team leverage at the negotiating table and little urgency to move him now.

His performance the court has stabilized his trade value as well. Through 42 games, he's averaging 21.8 points and 6.4 rebounds and shooting 34.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Kuzma would check the boxes Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban outlined in terms of the kind of player who could help the team right now.

"If we can get a big who can also create off the dribble, that'd be a plus," he said on The Freak-FM 97.1's Ben and Skin Show (via Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News).

Cuban added the player would be "6'8" or bigger," another qualification the 6'9" Kuzma would meet.

For the Kings, Kuzma would be an upgrade over Harrison Barnes.

Barnes has historically been a better shooter (39.4 percent on threes this year and 37.9 percent for his career), but Kuzma is a superior scorer. His playmaking also surpasses that of Barnes. He has averaged 3.8 assists per game since his 2021 trade to Washington.

In general, a Kuzma trade is probably inevitable.

The Wizards are going nowhere for the time being with a 7-35 record that's the second-worst in the NBA. By the time they're in a position to contend again, Kuzma might be close to free agency or out of contract entirely.

Based on Stein's report, though, the front office is content to wait for a suitable offer.