NBA Rumors: Wizards Star "Wants Out" Of DC; 4 Teams To Watch

"He wants out," an NBA source said of Washington Wizards breakout scoring star Kyle Kuzma. The 27-year-old has a player option on the final year of his contract after this season, and at $13M, he'll undoubtedly exercise that opt-out and become a free agent.

An NBA source believes Kyle Kuzma ‘wants out’ of DC, per @EricPincus

"He's looking for over $20 million a season and in a big market [or with a contender]." pic.twitter.com/Uy6N8hnUjh

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) December 11, 2022

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report writes that an NBA source says that Kuzma is "looking for over $20 million a season" and wants to play in "a big market" or with a contender. The latter two conditions unfortunately would seem to take the Wizards out of the mix, and make Kuzma a prime trade candidate before the Feb. 9th trade deadline. 

One team Pincus mentions that would have interest in Kuzma is the Sacramento Kings (though not sure how they meet those big market/contender guidelines either, however.)

Sacramento nearly had their hands on Kuzma in the 2021 offseason, when the Los Angeles Lakers were close to pulling the trigger on a deal that would have centered around bringing Buddy Hield to LA in exchange for Kuzma. But, as we all know, the Lakers decided instead to pivot to a Russell Westbrook trade, and thus Kuzma wound up in Washington, and the rest is history.

Others mentioned as possible Kuzma fits include the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers and the New York Knicks. 

Kuzma is averaging a career-high 21.4 points with 7.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Photo: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports