Wizards' Kyle Kuzma Possible Trade Fit with Mavs? NBA Scout Evaluates
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are linked in trade rumors to various forwards, including Kyle Kuzma of the rebuilding Washington Wizards. The team has until the February 8 deadline to make a move. With a 26-22 record, the Mavs appear motivated to upgrade the roster.
As reported by NBA insider Marc Stein on Thursday, the Mavs have "registered consistent trade interest" in Kuzma, making him a name to keep an eye on.
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Kuzma, 28, has averaged 22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for the Wizards this season. At the start of a four-year, $102 million contract with an annually descending salary, there is plenty of appeal for teams to consider trading for the 6-foot-9 forward.
As the Mavs continue to build around Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II, the team will need to make an upgrade on the wing. How would Kuzma fit in particular? One scout recently shared an evaluation of Kuzma's fit with the Mavs with the NBA Analysis Network.
“They play too small right now. Luka is often their tallest perimeter player at like 6-foot-7. Adding Lively has given them an interior presence, but that’s tiring for a team to play that small on the perimeter for a whole season," the scout said. "Even if they add a wing who isn’t a great defender, just simply getting bigger would help at this point. Jason [Kidd] coached him when he played his best defense at the NBA level during the Lakers' title run in the bubble. Having that familiarity and trust helps, especially when adding a player at the deadline.”
The value of having a big wing that can put the ball on the floor to make a play has plenty of value for any team, but the scout emphasized the potential importance of that skill set next to Doncic. Kuzma could be a helpful release valve with how defenses tend to blitz and double the Slovenian superstar.
“Adding a wing big enough to play the four full-time would give them a lot of options to attack defenses when they are blitzing and loading up on Luka," the scout said. "They could add layers to their offense to give Luka a break, like running 4-5 ball screens. They could become harder to guard by having Kuzma be involved in double-screener actions or even switch-hunt screening for Luka. With how Kyrie [Irving] has missed games this season, all of that becomes more important to make Luka’s job easier.”
The scout reflected on the Mavs' roster having limitations during the Mavs' run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, facing challenges when the possession would slow down, requiring their wing players to make a play off the dribble or just late in the shot clock, but were unable to do so.
“Regardless, even having another wing threat to attack closeouts or make a play late in the shot clock when things break down would go a long way," the scout said. "They didn’t have that during their Conference Finals run, and it became a problem against the [Golden State] Warriors. Kuzma can help with that.”
The Mavs' particular trade focus has been widely reported as a possible wing upgrade, given the team's lack of perimeter size has remained a roster limitation. The addition of Grant Williams has not translated to the team's initially anticipated results and Derrick Joens Jr. will hit free agency next summer, making the four spot a priority.
