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Kyle Kuzma has turned out to be a valuable player for the Washington Wizards. He is averaging a career-high 20.6 PPG while grabbing 7.7 RPG and 3.6 APG. In his sixth season in the NBA, he is becoming part of the 'big three' along with Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. With his good play this season, Kuzuma is setting himself up for an offseason payday.
Kyle Kuzma arrived in Washington as part of the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. According to veteran NBA reporter Shams Charania, there are NBA executives who expect Kuzma to be able to cash in this summer during free agency.
“For his part, Kuzma is expected to approach in excess of $20 million to $25 million per year on a new deal next summer, rival executives believe,”- Shams Charania
Wizards receiving trade interest in Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma will get the most from the Wizards, who are his current team, but other teams will be trying to sign him to a long-term deal worth at least $20 million per season. Given that a player like the Hawks' John Collins earns about $25 million a year, Kuzma should be able to demand more.
Kuzma is a skilled power forward who can stretch the floor and shoot the ball proficiently. Many teams will be interested in his services as he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2024. If Washington cannot make a deal with him next season before the trade deadline, Kuzuma may become a hot commodity in the trade market. The team will likely try to keep him as part of their budding core of players.
Are the Wizards a Potential Contender?
Although the Washington Wizards are below .500 with a 11-13 record, they are still alive in the race for the playoffs with only a quarter of the season having been completed.
Power forward Kyle Kuzma and center Kristaps Porzingis, who have established themselves as reliable scorers and rebounders, have joined the team to assist Beal. Their potential big three are all averaging over 20 points per game this year.
The Wizards currently sit in second place in the Southeast Division, only two games behind the Atlanta Hawks. Six of the last seven games have been losses for the team. They may have a chance to compete in the Eastern Conference if they can turn things around, but they will need their best players to be performing at their best.
