Wiz of Awes
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4 potential Kyle Kuzma deals if the Wizards decide to sign-and-trade him

By Cem Yolbulan

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 18, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 18, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Utah Jazz

Just like going back to the Lakers, this would be another return home for Kyle Kuzma, who spent three years at the University of Utah and won first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a junior.

The Utah Jazz have a surplus of draft picks following the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades last summer. They might presumably want to use a few to build their core and take a step forward next season.

They also probably don’t want to overpay for an aging player. Ideally, they would acquire players who could be a part of their core going forward. That’s why Kuzma is a great fit for the Jazz.

Kuzma, 27, is on the same timeline as their All-Star Lauri Markkanen who is 26 years old. The Kuzma-Markkanen duo as your starting forwards is a good place to start in your rebuild.

For the Wizards, the main appeal in a deal with Utah would be their slew of draft picks. The Wizards could get an unprotected or a lightly-protected first-round pick from the Jazz. Potentially, a deal that nets Washington the highest of the three draft picks the Jazz owns in 2025 should be enough for Kuzma.

To match the salaries, the Wizards would receive the expiring contracts of Kelly Olynyk and Simone Fontecchio. Olynyk could be a useful piece providing spacing and playmaking from the center position. Fontecchio is worth a flyer as a potential 3-and-D option going forward. The Wizards would have the option to re-sign these players next summer if they contribute during the season.

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