Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma Drawing Trade Interest From Hawks, Suns

Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has drawn trade interest from the Hawks and Suns, as well as several others, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Hoops Wire sources identified the Kings as being among the others. 

But right now, the Wizards aren’t making Kuzma available, sources added. If they did, they would be seeking a significant return.

At some point this season, the Wizards may look to make a major shakeup. While they are giving this current roster some time, it doesn’t seem as if it’s built to even win a playoff series. Or maybe not even make the playoffs.

Instead, the Wizards appear to be headed toward another season of just being average. That’s been the case for quite some time, as we wrote here. They are rarely terrible, but never great, and have sort of just stayed somewhere in between.

Floating Kuzma as the centerpiece of a trade could maybe help change that. Maybe the Wizards could win a trade and start down a new path, with Bradley Beal (now injured) finally getting the help he needs.

Kuzma offers that on most nights. But in order to get something, you have to give something. The Wizards aren’t trading Beal. Kuzma would be the other player that everyone else would want.

As for the Hawks, it’s no surprise that they would be interested, and they may be floating the name of forward John Collins as bait. If that’s the case, the Wizards may be better off keeping Kuzma. Though many around the league seem to think Collins will be even better with a new place to play. He might just need a fresh start.

The Suns, of course, are trying to replace injured small forward Cam Johnson, who is expected to miss a few more weeks. Along with that, they continue to seek out trades for forward Jae Crowder, who has yet to play this season.