Kyle Kuzma confident about securing a bag in free agency: “I'm going to get paid regardless”
Washington Wizards star Kyle Kuzma believes he will secure a good deal in the upcoming free agency.
Kuzma will be a free agent for the first time in his career. after playing for the LA Lakers for four seasons. He signed a four-year $39 million rookie scale extension after LA's championship win in 2020.
Kuzma will have a player option in the final year of the deal next season. He is likely to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. That would allow him to earn a bigger sum, thanks to his improved play since his move to the Wizards in the summer of 2021.
The former champion has averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, which has helped his case as a coveted target in free agency. Here's what Kyle Kuzma said about free agency as his season came to an end following the Wizards' elimination from the play-in tournament race (H/T Legion Hoops):
“It's not about money, I'm going to get paid regardless anywhere [I go] and here [in D.C.], too. It's about can I come into work everyday and be the best version of myself.”
Kyle Kuzma on free agency:
“It's not about money, I'm going to get paid regardless anywhere [I go] and here [in D.C.], too. It's about can I come into work everyday and be the best version of myself.”
Which team should sign him? https://t.co/6TIiVb5bzc
Kuzma's comments suggest that he wants to continue having a significant role, as he has had with Washington. He was deprived of that with the Lakers, as the team was led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Kuzma struggled to find a consistent role, which hampered his ability to perform at a high level nightly.
Washington Wizards could be positioned well to re-sign Kyle Kuzma
The Washington Wizards will have the flexibility to offer Kyle Kuzma a bigger sum than other teams in free agency. According to Spotrac, Kuzma would be eligible to sign a five-year $194 million max contract with the team, while the max sum other teams can offer is $144 million over four years.
However, neither seems like a possibility. Kuzma has improved his game, especially on offense, but he hasn't reached the level of max caliber player. Kuzma could command around $20 million a year.
The Wizards also plan to re-sign Kristaps Porzinigis to a long-term contract, so a sum worth $20 million annually for Kuzma would be ideal for maintaining some salary flexibility. Considering Kuzma's role with the Wizards, they could be favorites to re-sign him in free agency.
Contending teams are unlikely to have the cap space and role Kyle Kuzma expects to play at this stage. The OKC Thunder, LA Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers are among the nine teams with cap space that may entice Kyle Kuzma. Apart from the Mavericks, most teams will likely re-sign the majority of the impending free agents on their rosters.
They also won't have the kind of role to offer Kuzma that he has with the Wizards. Kuzma's other options include lottery teams, but that would be a step back in his ambitions of playing playoff basketball.
With his continued growth and the budding chemistry with his Wizards co-stars Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, his current employers will likely be positioned best to re-sign him this summer.