Would Trading for Kyle Kuzma Make Sense for Western Conference Riser?

The Thunder have arrived as a contender this season, but they could be a piece away from a title.

If the OKC Thunder need another piece, he may be on the trade block now.

While the Thunder have started the season 23-10 and sit second in the Western Conference, they may need another player to make them championship contenders this season. Although any move could disrupt the flow the team is currently in, Kyle Kuzma could be a low-risk acquisition.

According to Brett Siegel, the Washington Wizards may be ready to trade the forward. The price for Kuzma is reportedly multiple first-round picks.

Of course, that would not be an issue for the Thunder, given their haul of future picks. However, the four-year, $102 million contract he signed in the offseason could be a deterrent.

The problem would be the future extensions the Thunder will have to give to guys such as Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. But if GM Sam Presti feels confident he could flip Kuzma before those deals kick in, the Thunder have the salaries to match in a trade.

Davis Bertans would be included in any trade because of his salary and would likely be paired with either Vasilije Micic or a young player who Oklahoma City is willing to move on from.

Considering the Thunder’s success with their starting five, Kuzma would likely fill a sixth-man role. That spot in the rotation has worked for him in the past, as he came off the bench during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 title run.

However, getting Kuzma to take that role again may be a hard sell. This season, he is averaging 22.8 points on 19 shot attempts for the Washington Wizards.

As a solid defender, Kuzma could be a valuable addition on the wing. He has also shot 35.7% from 3-point range this season and averages 6.1 rebounds, which would be good for second-most on the Thunder.

Making a big move seems unlikely for the Thunder, but trading for someone like Kuzma could be the type of move that elevates them in the postseason. 

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