TRADE NEWS: Wizards set for a veteran trade.
The Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards “are expected to renew conversations” about forward Kyle Kuzma this offseason, per Action Network’s Matt Moore. The teams are rumored to have discussed deals surrounding Kuzma since last summer.
A go-to scorer with playmaking skills, he can lighten the load for De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. He can also do damage from the perimeter, converting 39.1 percent of his career corner 3s. As he’s not the best off-ball threat, there will be some ‘my turn, your turn’ offense. Nonetheless, because of the way his passing ability can blend with Fox’s growth as a 3-point shooter and Sabonis’s three-level scoring, they’ll be comfortable putting the ball in his hands.
If the Wizards end up selecting 2024 NBA Draft prospect Zaccharie Risacher, Kuzma will likely become more attainable.
Washington already has three other starting-caliber forwards in their rotation in Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, and Bilal Coulibaly. However, Risacher has their best parts of their skillset and few of their weaknesses. Furthermore, Kispert will be on the final year of his contract in 2024-25. Even more to the point, though Kispert is the most efficient 3-point threat among their forward rotation, he’s also the group’s worst defender. As a result, he’s likely regarded as expendable, especially if they can replace him with a player who has Risacher’s skillset.
Lastly, the French connection is obvious. In fact, Coulibaly has already talked up his countryman and potential teammate, saying Risacher’s “got a lot of talent.” If Coulibaly and Risacher are the Wizards’ future wings, their defense will help lift Washington into playoff contention.
None of that means that they’ll trade Kuzma. However, with Avdija’s growth in the back half of the 2023-24 season, he may have earned his spot as a full-time starter. After averaging 13.8 points per game prior to the All-Star Break, he averaged 17.1 points per game after it. Either mark would’ve been good enough for a career-high. With increased responsibility and continued development, the Wizards may transform him into a legitimate volume scorer.
The Kings’ proposed trade package of Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter and draft compensation won’t make or break the roster, especially if they draft Risacher. However, there’s no doubt Sacramento would get the best offensive player. To that point, while Kuzma averaged 22.2 points and 4.2 assists per game last season, Barnes posted 12.2 points per game and Huerter finished with less than that (10.2 points per game). Furthermore, due to Barnes’ age (32), he could request a buyout to join a contender.
