One year prior, the Wizards presented Kyle Kuzma with the opportunity to consent to a trade, which he declined, opting not to join a Mavericks squad that ultimately reached the NBA Finals. Kuzma has not determined his course of action should he encounter a similar circumstance this year; nevertheless, he informed Varun Shankar of The Washington Post that the front office has yet to address the matter.
“We shall observe the outcome.” “I am uncertain,” Kuzma stated. “I believe last year was the appropriate moment to remain following the signing of the agreement. That was primarily a phenomenon of the previous year. We have not engaged in discussions, have not addressed the deadline, nor have we conversed about a potential deal. This is indeed the first occasion on which I am discussing it comprehensively.
Washington’s defeat on Sunday against Sacramento marked their tenth consecutive loss, leaving them with a record of 6-35, the poorest in the league by a significant margin. Kuzma has two years remaining on his deal, and he might yield a significant value for a franchise that is evidently prioritising future assets over immediate success.
Shankar observes that Kuzma has had an inconsistent season, participating in only 24 games due to groin and rib problems. He is averaging merely 14.4 points per game, a decline from 22.2 PPG last season, and his lowest performance since joining Washington four years ago. Kuzma’s shooting has been deplorable, as he is achieving career lows in field goal percentage (42.5%) and three-point percentage (25.7%).
Nonetheless, Shankar emphasises that Kuzma possesses trade value as a 6’10” defender capable of playing both forward positions. At 29 years old, he has participated in a championship squad and possesses a contract that diminishes in value, decreasing from $23.5 million this season to $21.5 million next year and $19.4 million in the 2026/27 season.
Kuzma has significantly contributed to the offence since his arrival with the Wizards; yet, Shankar posits that he may be more appropriately positioned in a supplementary role, akin to his early tenure with the Lakers. He recorded the fourth-highest average of minutes and the third-highest number of shot attempts per game during Los Angeles’ championship campaign in 2020.
During a media session prior to Sunday’s game, Coach Brian Keefe expressed his support for Kuzma, attributing his diminished performance to injuries.
“He had established significant momentum early, but then he sustained an injury during the Atlanta game on November 30.” Subsequently, he was gaining speed until he had another injury. “He subsequently missed nearly an entire month,” Keefe stated. “…” The situation has been tumultuous. However, when he has participated, he has demonstrated efficiency by executing the tasks we require. I believe he has encountered some unfortunate injuries that have disrupted his rhythm.
Shankar notes that the choppiness was evident this weekend. Kuzma delivered one of his finest performances of the season on Saturday against Golden State, accumulating 22 points with a shooting accuracy of 7-of-12 from the field. Nevertheless, he was unable to replicate that performance on Sunday, as the Kings restricted him to 13 points, shooting 3-of-15 overall and 1-of-7 from outside the arc.
Kuzma stated, “This is the first instance in my career that I have experienced such an injury.” “I found it frustrating at a particular early stage…” However, I have moved past that. Merely present, engaging in each game sequentially, striving to remain in the moment.
