Most teams would be happy to have a player scoring 30 points, as Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma did on Saturday during their loss to the Phoenix Suns. Yet, with the comments that Kuzma made after his season-high outing, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins may need to consider cutting ties with the 29-year-old. “I think today I just decided to be myself and not really just try to fit into everything that we’re doing here, and just really played in the moment,” Kuzma would tell reporters (h/t The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins).
Asked to expound upon those comments, Kuzma said: “I mean just not trying to fit into what we’re trying to do here. Just being more assertive, demanding the ball, not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game.”
Kyle Kuzma’s Not-So-Cryptic Plea For Wizards Trade
Nobody can fault Kuzma for wanting to have a good game.
This season, he’s averaging 14.6 points per game, his lowest mark since 2020-21. He’s not only producing at a substandard rate but he’s struggled to find the bottom of the net, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and a career-low 28.0 percent from three. Nonetheless, the Flint native saying he’s “not trying to fit into” the Wizards’ plans by “not just going out there and trying to let people develop” is a slap in the face to Dawkins and his teammates.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Another issue with Kuzma’s comments is that can’t act like he didn’t know what he was signing up for. The Wizards were in a rebuilding stage when he agreed to a four-year, $102 million contract extension in the 2023 offseason. Just a week prior, Washington had traded Bradley Beal at his request, as well as Kristaps Porzingis. This was after a season in which the Kuzma-Beal-Porzingis triumvirate scored 67.6 points per game combined, though the Wizards finished 12th in the East at 35-47.
In 2023-24, he didn’t seem to mind becoming the No. 1 option. It gave him a chance to explore and expand his game in ways that he had never been able to. Indeed, he averaged career-highs of 22.2 points and 4.2 assists per game last season. His play had even captured the attention of trade suitors, like the Dallas Mavericks. However, instead of taking his talent to Texas, he decided he was better off in the nation’s capital. Though the Mavs were considered title-contenders, he didn’t feel like they were a sure enough bet.
That’s the only reason that he’s still in a Wizards uniform.
Lowering The Price
This season, Kuzma’s primarily been considered a target for the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately for him, neither franchise is heads over heels, so they haven’t made an offer the Wizards couldn’t refuse. However, if Kuzma is willing to let his ego disrupt his teammate’s development when Washington has nothing to lose by doing so, Dawkins needs to lower his price.
Addition by subtraction isn’t just a phrase that Los Angeles Clippers rising star Norman Powell loves. In certain situations, it can be very real. This appears to be one such scenario, as their young talent is more essential to their long-term success than Kuzma. Not only is he a 29-year-old player who may have already peaked, it’s virtually impossible for Washington to clinch a postseason berth. If him performing better won’t get them to the playoffs, then the reps that he wants only benefit his pride.
With that in mind, there’s a fine line between competitiveness and selfishness.
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