Grade the Trade: Wizards flip Kuzma for a blossoming young guard

Building Wizards trade for a blossoming guard

Looking around the league for an upgrade at guard is not the easiest task, as many teams that have a young guard with promise want to keep them. That being said, a few contenders with a need at forward could be convinced to give theirs up to make a push this season. The Dallas Mavericks are one of them, as highlighted by this trade idea from the popular trade site Fanspo.

https://twitter.com/fanspo/status/1612603983356469253

Dwight Powell is a part of the trade to make the money work, and he would be an upgrade on Daniel Gafford as a versatile offensive big. The first-round pick and Jaden Hardy are the real backbone of the deal.

The Mavericks really need another offensive creator, and finding that player in a 6’9″ frame is ideal. Kuzma is averaging 21.3 points per game and a career-best 3.8 assists per game, and he would thrive in the space afforded by Luka Doncic’s gravity. Jaden Hardy is unlikely to be a playoff performer for the Mavericks, but Kuzma certainly could be.