Kyle Kuzma Trade Rumors: Lakers, Warriors Among Teams Who've Kept Tabs on Wizards SF
Don't be surprised if Kyle Kuzma is on the trade block ahead of the February deadline.
Accordng to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, "Teams around the league believe the 29-year-old forward is worth monitoring as a trade candidate due to his skillset and declining salary over the next two years while in his prime years. Executives around the league also believe Kuzma doesn't fit the long-term timeline of Washington's young core."
He noted that the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have "kept tabs" on Kuzma.
Kuzma, 29, has had a rough start to the 2024-25 season, averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting just 27.6 percent from three in 12 games. If those marks persist, it would be his lowest scoring output since the 2020-21 season, his worst rebounding since the 2019-20 campaign and the worst perimeter shooting of his career.
Even just last season, Kuzma averaged a career-best 22.2 points per game for the Wizards.
Regardless of his statistical output, however, Kuzma is miscast on a rebuilding Wizards team that needs to be focused on getting its younger players minutes and collecting draft assets to stockpile the roster with lottery talent.
The Wizards are an NBA-worst 2-16 and it's unlikely to get much better, though tanking is a logical strategy for them. The team's notable young talent includes Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn Sarr, Kyshawn George and Carlton Carrington, though it remains to be seen if any will truly develop into stars.
With players like Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey hitting the NBA draft next year, however, it's a good year for a rebuilding team like the Wizards to be bad.
As for potential Kuzma suitors, he's proven capable of playing a role for a contender in the past, winning a bubble title with the Lakers in the 2019-20 season. He largely came off the bench that season, though it's hard to imagine him returning to that role if he's dealt to a playoff team this time around.
But for teams needing more length and shot-making at the 4, Kuzma would make sense as a potential addition.
