TheWashington Wizardshave made some major changes lately, as they look to hit the proverbial reset button.
They first traded forward Rui Hachimura in late January, then they jettisoned Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis this month.
But one key player will be remaining in our nation s capital next season: Kyle Kuzma.
The 6-foot-9 forward agreed to a new deal that will keep him with the Wizards for the next four seasons on Friday, and it will make him a very wealthy man.
Free agent F Kyle Kuzma has agreed on a four-year, $102M deal to return to the Washington Wizards, co-head of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown tells ESPN. Kuzma took a shorter deal with Lakers three years ago and now cashes in after a career-year with Wizards. pic.twitter.com/Ox7TQDcb6z
Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
Kuzma was a late first-round draft pick back in 2017, and he immediately proved that he was a great value pick.
As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 16.1 points a game during his rookie season, and he increased that number to 18.7 points per contest the following season.
When Anthony Davis joined LeBron James for the 2019-20 campaign, Kuzma went to the bench, and although he was an awkward fit next to his two superstar teammates, he played a key role in the Lakers winning the NBA championship that year.
Kuzma was traded to the Wizards in 2021 in the Russell Westbrook trade, and he has expanded his game over the last few years, especially when it has come to his defense, rebounding, and passing.
This season, he put up a career-high 21.2 points a game.
He will be joined next season by Jordan Poole, who was recently acquired from the Golden State Warriors for Chris Paul, the main piece Washington got from the Phoenix Suns in the Beal deal.
Kuzma will therefore be able to continue to spread his wings.
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Wizards Draft Pick Says That Jordan Poole Has Already Reached Out To Him