NBA Rumors: Two Wizards Stars Could Be Shut Down For Season

The Washington Wizards' season has hit the skids in a hurry. The team has lost eight of its past 10 games, and now sit 3½ games behind the final play-in spot. According to a report, it sounds like they're about ready to throw in the towel, as Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma could be shut down for the balance of the season.

Wes Unseld Jr. said he "hopes" Bradley Beal (knee) and Kyle Kuzma (ankle) return this year, but plainly, the Wizards are running out of time & you could certainly argue bringing them back makes little sense.

— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) March 26, 2023

The Wizards have just seven games left after tonight, so making up that deficit would be difficult.

Kuzma sprained his right ankle on March 18th and it's still extremely swollen, so forcing the issue as he approaches free agency after the season (once he opts out of his contract, as expected) would not be prudent for the player. The Wizards are still hoping to re-sign him to a long-term extension.

Beal has missed the last three games with a mild left knee sprain. He's played just 50 games this season with an assortment of injuries. The last time he played more than 60 games in a season is four years ago. 

If they're done, Beal finishes averaging 23.2 points per game and 5.4 assists, slightly above his career norms. Kuzma had a terrific breakthrough year, averaging  21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists. A solid resume to take into free agency.

Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports