Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards is definitely playing like a man who wants to lead an NBA team.
There is no doubt that Kuzma is having the best season of his career right now: he is averaging 22 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
But Kuzma is also playing with strong leadership skills and serious confidence too.
“I think he’s only increasing his value as every single game goes on.” 📈@ShamsCharania on Kyle Kuzma's market this summer 💰#RunItBack | https://t.co/Q9hUtUoPZJ pic.twitter.com/lpOEMibuYX
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) January 25, 2023
On Tuesday night, Kuzma claimed a team-high 30 points in a 1-point victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
His powerful performance was another sign that his value on the NBA market is exploding.
Speaking on FanDuel TV, NBA expert Shams Charania touched upon the impressive growth of Kuzma.
He noted that with each passing game, the dollar value for Kuzma’s next contract grows and grows.
While many analysts believed that he was looking at a new contract of about $25 million a year, Kuzma could garner a lot more than that if he keeps playing like this.
Now the question is this: where will Kuzma land?
After the departure of Rui Hachimura, the Lakers won’t be able to land Kuzma but other teams will be eyeing him.
However, the Wizards are becoming more and more inclined to retain Kuzma and build a team around him.
The Wizards have long belonged to Bradley Beal, who scored 22 points on Tuesday night.
But right now it feels like the team is in transition, moving from Beal’s hands to Kuzma’s.
Kuzma has suggested that he’s eager to test free agency waters this summer.
Will the Wizards make the moves necessary to keep Kuzma and start a new chapter with him leading the team or will they trade him away when his value has never been higher?
Washington will have to make some tricky choices over the next few months.
