As his name surfaces in trade rumors, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma made his intentions clear regarding his financial future in the NBA. According to the Washington Post’s Ava Wallace, Kuzma intends to decline his player option for the 2023-24 season to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Kuzma is in the second year of a three-year, $39 million contract he initially signed with the Los Angeles Lakers that pays him $13 million annually. Signing an extension with the Wizards would not make financial sense for Kuzma.
Per the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Kuzma could make no more than $15.6 million in the first year of a contract extension with the Wizards, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. That would cap Kuzma for roughly $69 million on a four-year extension.
By opting out, Kuzma reportedly will seek at least $20 million per year, putting him in a position to fetch a new deal in the range of $80-$100 million for a four-year contract.
Kyle Kuzma played four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning an NBA championship in 2020. The Lakers traded Kuzma to the Wizards before the 2021-22 season as part of the blockbuster trade involving Russell Westbrook.
Kuzma has come out of the shadow of LeBron James playing with the Wizards. His game has evolved. This season, his second with Washington, Kuzma is averaging a career-high 21.4 points along with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 28 games.
The timing of Kuzma stating his intention is peculiar. The Wizards have identified Kuzma as part of its core alongside Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. However, Washington may be inclined to entertain trade offers before the Feb. 9 deadline. Otherwise, the team risks Kuzma walking away in free agency with nothing in return.
