Trade Proposal Sends Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma To Heat

One NBA analyst proposed that the Miami Heat acquire Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards before the 2024-25 season starts. 

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade:

The Trade: The Miami Heat acquire Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jović, Josh Richardson and a 2030 first-round pick (protected 1-10)

“Kuzma is a demonstrated 20-point scorer with championship experience in his not-so-distant past,” Hughes wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Stranded in Washington these past three years, he comes with the standard ‘good stats, bad team’ concerns, but that might also mean the Heat could expect efficiency gains from him in a more functional, talent-rich environment.

“The 28-year-old forward is on a declining contract and offers a ton of what Miami’s offense, which ranked 21st last season, needs. A capable self-creator, solid passer (4.2 assists per game in 2023-24) and good enough catch-and-shoot threat (35.5 percent last year) to draw attention, Kuzma could juice the Heat’s attack and take over a starting gig from Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Tyler Herro, depending on what Erik Spoelstra thinks his first unit needs most.”

Kuzma averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Wizards in 2023-24 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.  

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 won the 2020 championship with the Lakers over the Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

“The Wizards could push for swap rights in 2026 and 2028 if they don’t want to wait so long for a pick to convey, or if they don’t like the protections on the 2030 selection they’re getting,” Hughes wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “But Jović is the kind of young, developmental piece Washington should chase, and Robinson could be flipped for value at this trade deadline or the next.”