Kyle Kuzma signed his new four-year contract with the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Details emerged, laminating how team-friendly the deal is for the Wizards.
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Kuzma’s deal does not contain a player or team option. Also, the contract’s value is $90 million guaranteed, not the $102 million initially reported.
There are $6 million worth of unlikely incentives tied to the team’s performance. The contract also contains a 15% trade kicker.
The $90 million are spread in a descending arrangement, giving the Wizards breathing room with the salary cap and opening the door to trade Kuzma in the future.
Per The Athletic, Kuzma will make $25.6 million in Year 1. However, his salary drops to $23.5 million in 2024-25; $21.5 million in 2025-26; and $19.4 million in 2026-27, the final year of the deal.
Kuzma gets a significant portion of his money in the first team years. Washington is committed to $40.9 million over the final two years.
Kyle Kuzma has blossomed in his two years with the Wizards. He spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers primarily as a role player, winning an NBA championship in 2020 alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
After getting traded to the Wizards before the 2021-22 season Kuzma unlocked his potential. In his first year with the Wizards, he averaged a career-high 8.5 rebounds in 66 games while averaging 17.1 points. Last season, he averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 3.7 assists in 64 games.
Kuzma declined a $13 million player option for the 2023-24 season to test free agency. Yet, once the Wizards traded cornerstone Bradley Beal and the 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis before the NBA Draft, the team shifted focus on re-signing Kuzma.
Kuzma is “very excited” to return to the Wizards. He’s ready to lead the franchise into the future.
“I’m very excited to be back in Washington. It is truly an honor to have belief from Ted, Michael, Will, and the entire organization to help lead the franchise into the future,” Kuzma said in a statement by the Wizards. “I’m dedicated to continuing to develop my skills on the court while helping to add value to the vision of the team’s direction moving forward.”
