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Kyle Kuzma declining player option with Wizards
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is declining his player option and will become a free agent, according to a Tuesday tweet from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
"ESPN Sources: As expected, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13M player option and become a free agent," Wojnarowski wrote. "Kuzma will be one of the marketplace's most prominent players. A return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility."
Kuzma, the former 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, played in 406 games and started in 276 over his six-year NBA career, according to Basketball Reference.
He played and started in 64 games for the Wizards last season. The former standout for the Utah Utes averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during his second season with Washington.
Kuzma signed a three-year, $40M contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He was traded to the Wizards in 2021. The trade deal sent Kuzma, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, forward Montrezl Harrell and the No. 22 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft in exchange for guard Russell Westbrook and two second-round selections.
The move leaves Washington with 11 players who at least have the option of returning to Washington, according to sports salary and contract site Spotrac. Forward Kristaps Porzingis is listed with a player option with a deadline of June 21. Guard Chris Paul is listed with a partially-guaranteed deal for the 2023-24 season.
The 6-foot-9 forward can be a solid option at the small or the power forward for any team that can afford his asking price. He will need to improve his scoring efficiency after he shot 44.8% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point line last season. But Kuzma could be an ideal fit for a contending team in need of an extra scoring punch.
More must-reads:
- Cavs Emerge As ‘Realistic’ Kyle Kuzma Landing Spot
- Report: Wizards not rushing to move Chris Paul
- The '200 three-pointers in multiple seasons' quiz
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MLB Insider Makes Brutal Yankees Prediction
New York Yankees fans know all too well how long it's been since the club last won a World Series title. If general manager Brian Cashman doesn't successfully wheel and deal ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline, it's entirely the title drought will continue in the Bronx. And that's not even the worst of it. "The Yankees, even without ace Gerrit Cole, were comfortably cruising along towards another AL East title when the wheels came off, and they have less than two weeks to see if they can find the right mechanic to get them rolling again," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday. "This is a team that had a seven-game lead in late May, were 17 games over .500 in mid-June, but then were swept by the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels, and still haven’t been the same, losing 19 times in the last 30 games," Nightengale continued. "They are desperate to find a third baseman and another starter in the next 12 days. If they come up empty, they may have trouble just slipping into the postseason," Nightendale concluded. "Sitting home in October would be nothing short of disastrous," Nightengale added for emphasis. The Yankees last missed the playoffs two years ago before returning to the World Series last fall. In seeking its first title since 2009, New York lost the 2024 Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. This year, the Yankees have a 42% chance of winning the American League East, according to FanGraphs. New York has a 49.4% chance of winning an AL wild card, giving them a 91.4% chance overall of reaching the playoffs. The Yankees have a 10% chance of winning the World Series, which is tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best odds in the American League. The Dodgers remain the overall World Series favorites with a 20.8% chance of winning another title. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Linked To Red-Hot Reliever Yankees Linked to Former Outfielder in Juicy Trade Rumor Yankees in Mix for Pirates All-Star Pitcher Yankees Trade Rumors: All-Star Closer On The Market? Yankees Have Competition for Diamondbacks Star
Maple Leafs continue to play moneyball: Three big names in play
With Mitch Marner’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights closing a major chapter in Toronto, GM Brad Treliving made a series of moves to replace his production. He might not be done. Three may be even bolder moves on the horizon. We’ve heard the names Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf before. However, the Maple Leafs are actively fielding and exploring trade scenarios as they look to reshape their roster — and according to Nick Kypreos, a handful of intriguing names are emerging in trade chatter: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, and former Leafs fan-favorite Nazem Kadri. The most surprising name still generating buzz is Rielly. Despite being a longtime cornerstone on Toronto’s blue line, his $7.5 million cap hit and no-move clause complicate matters. Yet with the team needing help up front, and possible interest in offensive defensemen like Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, Rielly could become part of a larger plan if he’s open to waiving. Also surprising is the talk surrounding Carlo. A recent addition to the Leafs’ defense corps, he is already being talked about behind the scenes as a potential trade piece. If he were made available, there is interest around the league, as the 6-foot-6 shutdown defender has a team-friendly cap hit and strong penalty-killing ability. Trading Carlo could get the Leafs a top-six forward. Finally, reports on the availability of Kadri remain conflicting. Some say he’s not available, while others suggest that the Calgary Flames would consider the idea. The former Maple Leaf would be a welcome addition back to Toronto, but there isn’t much of a reason for the Flames to trade him unless the return is outstanding. Kadri reportedly would consider waiving his no-move clause for a reunion. That said, getting a deal done won’t be easy, especially with Montreal also rumored to be on his short list. Whether any of these deals come to pass or are just pure speculation, one thing’s sure: the Maple Leafs aren’t standing still. Treliving is trying to get his roster to score more goals. He seems willing to entertain any idea and play Moneyball with the roster if it will help.
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