Trade Proposal Sends Kyle Kuzma To Thunder, Josh Giddey To Wizards

One NBA analyst proposed that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards make a trade with each other this offseason. 

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Thunder and Wizards:

Washington Wizards Receive: Josh Giddey, 2025 first-round pick (least favorable from Houston, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami, Oklahoma City or Philadelphia)

Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Kyle Kuzma

The Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs in six games. 

Meanwhile, the Wizards missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. 

Kuzma averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Wizards this season in 70 games while shooting 46.3% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 77.5% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $23.5 million next season. 

As for Giddey, he averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks in 80 games for the Thunder while shooting 47.5% overall, 33.7% from 3 and 80.6% from the foul line. He’ll make $8.4 million in 2024-25. 

“Flipping Kuzma for Giddey straight up might make sense if this was a year or two ago, but the latter has just one season left on his rookie scale,” Favale wrote in his NBA article. “The prospect of his next contract dulls some of his appeal.

“Rumor has it, though, that the Thunder might have an extra first-round draft pick or two. Washington remains short on those. Scooping up a first-rounder in a draft class considered much deeper than this year’s crop adds a coveted tool to their rebuilding belt.

“The Wizards might want a better version of the included pick. That’s fine. The two sides can haggle over the finer details or any additional draft equity later. This outline should at least get the discussion started—unless Oklahoma City isn’t having it.”

Kuzma has career averages of 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers and Wizards. He helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship at the Walt Disney World bubble.

“Kuzma isn’t a lights-out shooter, but he’s respectable enough to preserve their offensive principles, and he’s turned into a solid defender and rebounder when deployed as a bigger wing,” Favale wrote. “Bake in a salary that declines through each of the next three years, and he’s a workable fit—functionally and financially—who doesn’t tether Oklahoma City to any one approach over the longer haul.”

Giddey has career averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Thunder. He’s eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension this offseason.