Could Kyle Kuzma be the steal of the trade deadline?

 The Washington Wizards are reportedly willing to lower their asking price for Kyle Kuzma. Previous reporting cited a fee of two future first-round picks. 

According to David Aldridge of The Athletic, the front office could be willing to lower that asking price. 

"League sources maintain Washington has been holding out for two first-round picks for Kuzma, though team sources indicate that is somewhat overblown," Aldridge reported. "The truth is probably somewhere in the middle."

Kuzma, 28, would be an ideal third option on a contending team. He plays both sides of the floor and is a reliable scoring option from multiple levels. During his tenure with Washington, he has played several roles, excelling in all of them.

The key to building a successful team is having diverse players. Kuzma can play both forward positions. He can scale his production based on who is surrounding him on the floor. If a contending team can acquire him for a future first-round pick and salary matching, they would be securing themselves a bargain. 

In 46 games this season, Kuzma is averaging 21.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He's shooting 45.6% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range. That type of production could be a genuine difference-maker for a team on the outskirts of being a genuine championship contender. 

Furthermore, Kuzma's contract is team friendly. He is in the first year of his four-year $90 million deal. With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, contracts in the low $20 million range are incredibly valuable as trade chips. Kuzma will be 31 when he enters the final year of his deal, so he will likely still be in his prime. 

With a cost-controlled deal and high-level production, the Wizards will likely have no shortage of suitors for Kuzma in the coming weeks. If he does get traded, he will likely be the biggest steal of the trade season. Kuzma has proven himself to be a valuable asset in the league. He could thrive if given a bigger platform.