Grading Wizards: Forward Kyle Kuzma Earns Highest Marks at Midway Point of NBA Season
As we move through the midway point of the NBA Season, the Washington Wizards currently hold an 18-26 record and are four-and-a-half games out from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Locked On Wizards host Brandon Scott recently sat down to grade the starting five for the Wizards, who have largely helped get the team to this point.
Because that group can fluctuate a bit, the starting five Scott evaluated for the exercise are as follows:
PG, Monte Morris
SG, Bradley Beal
SF, Kyle Kuzma
PF, Kristaps Porzingis
C, Daniel Gafford
And here are the grades, as given by Scott.
PG, Monte Morris
MIN/GM: 28.6 | FG%: .466 | PTS/GM: 10.2 | Assists/GM: 5.4 | Rebounds/GM: 3.4
"I've made it known that I believe Monte Morris is best served on the second unit," says Scott. "He's very small, going against bigger guards - longer guards with length - he struggles."
GRADE: B
SG, Bradley Beal
MIN/GM: 33.6 | FG%: .525 | PTS/GM: 22.9 | Assists/GM: 5.2 | Rebounds/GM: 3.5
The first member of what Scott calls the 'Solid Three' as opposed to 'Big Three', Beal has battled injury all season long but is still producing at a good rate when on the court.
Where Scott takes issue with Beal, is leadership and his body language when the team isn't doing well.
Leadership and health aside, the Wizards guard continues to be one of the better producers on the team, but certainly has room to grow as a teammate.
GRADE: C
SF, Kyle Kuzma
MIN/GM: 35.3 | FG%: .457 | PTS/GM: 21.6 | Assists/GM: 3.9 | Rebounds/GM: 7.5
The only player left from the Wizards' trade that sent guard Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers, Kuzma has grown, according to Scott.
"He's a totally different player than he was with the Lakers," says Scott. "He has grown into a complete player who can be a playmaker. Who can score at a high level (and) who can utilize his size."
GRADE: A
PF, Kristaps Porzingis
MIN/GM: 32.9 | FG%: .474 | PTS/GM: 22.2 | Assists/GM: 2.4 | Rebounds/GM: 8.7
While Scott acknowledges Porzingis' struggles at times against some of the bigger frontcourt players in the league, he praises the Washington forward's efforts on defense.
Scott even goes as far as to say he believes Porzingis is playing, "at an All-Star level."
GRADE: B+
C, Daniel Gafford
MIN/GM: 16.9 | FG%: .751 | PTS/GM: 7.8 | Assists/GM: .7 | Rebounds/GM: 4.8
Scott says that while Gafford is far from a playmaker, he's shown more energy as of late and has the potential to become a more consistent offensive threat by developing a mid-range shot.
Averaging less than five rebounds per game, another area Gafford could certainly improve upon is there, while also looking to increase his one block per game (1.1) average as well.
GRADE: B
Overall, Scott gives the entire Wizards starting unit a B- letter grade.
And of course, he wants to know what Washington fans think of these grades and players yourselves, so check out the full grade breakdown and analysis, on this episode of Locked On Wizards.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
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