During an interview with Josh Robbins of The Athletic , Kyle Kuzma revealed that he told the Washington Wizards to not trade him to the Dallas Mavericks at the NBA trade deadline.
When Wizards exec Michael Winger informed Kuzma that the general framework of a trade was in place to send him to the Mavericks, Kuzma told Winger he wanted to remain in Washington.
“There was a point in time, Dallas, they definitely did want me,” Kyle Kuzma said. “Winger presented me with what the trade was and obviously didn’t want to trade me and kind of left the decision up to me a little bit and asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to stay and continue to build something. And that was kind of the end of it.”
The Wizards signed Kuzma to a four-year, $90 million contract last summer. Kuzma’s annual salary decreases every year.
The Mavericks defeated the Wizards last night (2/12) by a final score of 112-104. Kuzma finished with 23 points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes while shooting 9-of-19 from the field and 1-of-7 from 3.
Kuzma is averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season while shooting 45.6% from the floor, 32.9% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line. The forward is making $25.6 million.
The Wizards have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 9-44. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are in eighth place in the West at 31-23.
“In my career, I won a championship,” Kuzma said. “So, I understand that when we play this game of basketball it’s not about contending for a playoff spot. It’s about contending for an NBA championship. There’s only like three or four contenders — true contenders. I just felt like our timelines didn’t line up.”
Kuzma has career averages of 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers and Wizards. He won the 2020 championship with the Lakers.
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