Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards: Kyle Kuzma should play minutes at center

By Cem Yolbulan

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 03: Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors blocks Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards shot in the first half during a NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at Capital One Arena on November 3, 2020 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 03: Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors blocks Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards shot in the first half during a NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at Capital One Arena on November 3, 2020 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Heading into the 2023-24 NBA season, the Washington Wizards’ biggest on-court weakness is its center rotation. Having only two traditional centers on their roster in Daniel Gafford and Mike Muscala, the Wizards will have to get creative in their center minutes, barring any major moves before the start of the season. One of these creative options is using Kyle Kuzma more at the center.

Using Kuzma as the biggest player in the lineup gives Washington certain advantages. Kuzma would be undersized as a center, but he can switch onto perimeter players and create havoc thanks to his length and mobility. He is only 6’8 but he is a wonderful rebounder, evening out any potential second-chance issues.

Kuzma is strong and doesn’t get pushed around easily. He will hold his ground in most matchups unless it’s against a post-up brute like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, or Domantas Sabonis. It is an advantage that there are only a handful of those types of players in the league.

In the lineups where he is playing center, rim protection could be a slight issue. Kuzma is not the best shot blocker in the league, but in these units, the Wizards would likely switch across all positions and attempt to slow down penetration. And, Kuzma can certainly be a defensive force in a switchable scheme.

Despite his primary position being a power forward, Kuz has been utilized as a small-ball center at certain times in his career. In the 2018-19 season with the Lakers, he played 15% of his minutes at center, while playing 9% of his playing time at center for the Wizards in the 2021-22 season.

Neither of these experiments went that well on the defensive end. However, Kuzma’s ability to space the floor as a stretch-five did help the team offense immensely. In both seasons, the teams had very good offensive ratings while Kuz was playing as the center.

This is another massive benefit to giving Kuzma a look at the center. Having a capable playmaker, passer, and shooter as a center, helps juice up the offensive efficiency. There aren’t many traditional centers that can defensively match up with Kuzma’s dynamic offense. This sort of matchup nightmare could do wonders for the Wizards’ young core. Having Kuz as the lead offensive engine from the high post can help the young Wizards get easier looks.

If the Washington Wizards aren’t planning on bringing in another big man, playing Kyle Kuzma some minutes at center is worth a look. This would not only be beneficial for the Wizards, but it could also help Kuzma add to his game and make a name for himself as a versatile big man. The Wizards fans should be ready for these on-court experiments in a rebuilding season.

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