What the Washington Wizards future looks like if Kyle Kuzma wants out

The Washington Wizards are in the midst of a big slide down the Eastern Conference standings with their current seven-game losing streak. However, one of the few bright spots of the season has been the play of Kyle Kuzma. In his second season with the Wizards, Kuzma has been one of the biggest standouts.

He has increased his scoring by four full points per game, while playing some solid defense. Kuzma is a key piece for the Wizards and their future, but that future may be in question as rumors are swirling about Kuzma potentially wanting out of Washington.

He has a player option after this season, which he will definitely decline. Every team would love a player of his caliber. A contract of $20 million a year is the bare minimum of what he should take.

Now what does this mean for the Wizards going forward? Are there any other options? Can Kuzma stay?

What the Washington Wizards should do with Rui Hachimura.

Kyle Kuzma isn’t the only forward that is entering free agency this off-season. Rui Hachimura and the Wizards couldn’t work out a contract extension before the season started, so that means he will be a restricted free agent. The writing was on the wall for Hachimura, as he lost his starting spot last season, and can’t seem to stay healthy again. A trade even seemed likely at some point this season.

However, the news of Kuzma wanting out could change their course of action. Hachimura struggling with his health can potentially give the Wizards a chance to get him on a discount. Furthermore, he is still a young player that might be able to find his footing with more consistent minutes.

At the end of the day, we all know who the better option and player is. The issue is that the Wizards lack control of the situation. They need to try their best to understand if there is any chance of Kuzma coming back and figure out what to do with Rui Hachimura.

The Washington Wizards should trade Kyle Kuzma now if they know he’s out.

Teams do not enjoy losing a player for nothing. They always want a return for someone they know is going to leave or has intentions to leave. The Wizards need to be proactive with this situation and not have it linger without some sort of return.

The likelihood of Kuzma wanting to stay in D.C. with how the season seems to be going is very slim. It doesn’t hurt to try, but the outcome might end with him leaving regardless. His contract for this season sits at $13 million, which is very easy to move.

Several contenders would love to have him for a run in the playoffs. We also know Kuzma loves the bright lights and being a celebrity similar to how he once was for the Lakers. This makes the west coast teams a strong candidate in the Kuzma sweepstakes.

Trading him this season might be in the Washington Wizards’ best interest. As of right now, the future does not look bright and getting more draft capital could help the Wizards. The time to make a decision is now. No time for the Wizards to wait.