You could be forgiven for thinking that Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma had a no-trade clause in his contract after he rejected the opportunity to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Wizards front office is simply willing to consult with the soon-to-be eight-year veteran about deals involving him. It’s not a luxury that every star gets, which may lend insight into the relationship Kuzma has with the organization.
To that point, while the Wizards are seen as a non-contending team in the midst of a rebuild, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All that can be certain is Kuzma didn’t see himself as the right piece for the Mavs.
Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma Clarifies Mavs Trade Rumors
“Absolutely not,” he tells The Athletic’s Josh Robbins when asked if he regrets his choice. “A big part of the Mavericks becoming who they were was getting an extra center and a forward. If I would’ve went there, that wouldn’t have happened, getting two impact players. And when you look at who won the championship, it wasn’t a team with (just) three or four players; it was a team with six or seven really good players… So you need more players.”
Based on Kuzma’s comments, the Wizards assets have a certain amount of appeal to him. Financially, they aren’t handcuffed to any supersized contracts that would be difficult to move although Jordan Poole needs to re-establish his value as an upper echelon player. Their war chest has 10 first round picks through the 2030 NBA Draft. Between Poole, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, and Kyshawn George, Washington already has multiple young players who can become franchise cornerstones.
Yet, the Mavs have two players who have a high probability of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Players have every right to move at their own pace and march to the beat of their own drum. More often than not, their destiny is in their hands and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Nonetheless, it’s fair to question the rationale behind the 29-year-old’s decision.
The District’s Top Dog
Kuzma may want to continue being the No. 1 option on offense, which he’s been since the Wizards traded Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. As he already has a ring —winning a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020—he may not be as motivated by title talk.
Been there, done that.
With that being said, Kuzma has definitely leveled up in the nation’s capital. The former 27th overall pick has averaged 21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game over the past two seasons. Numbers aside, he’s demonstrated ample improvement as a playmaking forward. That’s an environment that a lot of players would prefer to stay in.
Considering Kuzma’s earnest desire to play in the LA Olympics, his growth as a player could be even more important.
The Last Word on Kyle Kuzma’s Decision
Kuzma’s decision to pass up the Mavs trade doesn’t mean he isn’t serious about winning. Additionally, he could always accept a trade to another contender, one that he feels more comfortable joining.
Still, while it does seem to be a layered decision, his words might need to be taken at face value. He could truly believe the Wizards can put themselves in position to be competitive, perhaps even sooner rather than later. Will Dawkins wouldn’t be the first general manager to convince a star to buy into their vision.
