The Washington Wizards could also look at completing a trade with a divisional rival in the Heat.
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The Washington Wizards, in all honesty, should have started a rebuild years ago. This trade gives them assets to start the process. Given that the Heat are still looking to climb the standings in the Eastern Conference, the Wizards have the chance to select two lottery players in this absolutely loaded 2023 NBA draft if Miami is not able to improve.
In addition, the Wizards get very capable forwards that could play or be moved later on. Add Nikola Jovic into the mix, a center whom many executives are optimistic of his potential, and the Wizards have themselves a solid foundation for a potential rebuild.
If there’s one team in the East that hopes to remain competitive but is running out of time, it’s the Miami Heat. After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year and the NBA Finals back in 2020, they are starting to exit their window for contention.
Injuries have plagued them for the last two regular seasons; however, in the playoffs they’ve become overly reliant on Jimmy Butler to create for the rest of the team. Adebayo has not quite reached that second-option level offensively. Trading some depth for Kuzma could tip the scales in their favor.
In 41 games without Bradley Beal over the last two seasons, Kuzma is averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds on solid efficiency. In games without Kristaps Porzingis, those numbers look very similar, averaging 18 and 8 on even better efficiency.
Simply put, Kuzma has shown the ability to be a quality second or third option offensively and has played in championship situations that have required him to do so. The Heat need another player to take the load off Jimmy Butler come postseason, and Kuzma can certainly do it.