Kyle Kuzma is returning to the Washington Wizards after agreeing to a four-year, $102 million contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. It’s a move that appeared out of the question a week ago, but momentum shifted toward Kuzma returning to Washington just ahead of the free agency start.
Did the market for Kuzma go dry? Signs were pointing to the notion. Teams initially interested in the 6-foot-10 forward seemed to bow out to go in other directions.
Earlier this month, Kuzma opted out of his $13 million player option with the Wizards to test free agency. He reportedly sought up to a $30 million annual salary on his next deal.
However, with the new collective bargaining agreement starting with free agency, teams are navigating the upcoming salary cap and luxury tax rules, leaving free agents to take the hit.
The Sacramento Kings were linked to Kuzma earlier this week. That is until the Kings gave forward Harrison Barnes a three-year, $54 million extension.
The Utah Jazz was also said to be interested in Kuzma until the team traded for former Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins. The Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers were also interested. Yet, both teams are pursuing other options, making Kuzma an afterthought.
With Kuzma looking for well above the league’s mid-level exception, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports added that “it’s unclear where the scoring forward can command that type of money” if the Rockets and Pacers spend their salary cap on other players.
But Kuzma’s destination started to surface with free agency approaching. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the “chatter circulating” around the league is Kuzma had expected to re-sign with the Wizards.
The Wizards are embracing a rebuild behind its new front office. Washington traded three-time All-Star Bradley Beal and the 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis separately. Beal and Pozingis were the Wizards’ top two leading scorers — both players averaged 23.2 points.
Kyle Kuzma averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 64 games for the Wizards last season. Washington reset its roster by acquiring guard Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors and Tyus Jones from the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Kuzma’s return, it will be interesting to see how he fits into the Wizards’ plans moving forward. As David Aldridge of The Athletic pointed out, Kuzma wanted to land somewhere he could have the ball in his hands, be a playmaker, and be allowed to grow his game in addition to getting paid.
A rebuilding Wizards team allows that. However, Kuzma will be 28 years of age. He’ll be one of the older players on a young Wizards’ roster. Bringing him back makes him a key player on a team that seemingly handed over the marquee role to Poole.
Where does 2021’s first-round pick Corey Kispert fit? Or 2020 first-rounder Deni Avdija? Kuzma’s return certainly will affect their minutes and presumably slide one or the other to a bench role.
Kuzma does give first-round draft pick Bilal Coulibaly some breathing room to develop. Keeping him also gives the Wizards options to move him later in a trade.
In 2020, Kyle Kuzma agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The shorter deal freed him to cash in at this point. He did so. Meanwhile, the Wizards get a steady veteran with a ring, hopefully, to mentor a roster that includes eight players 25 years of age or younger.
