Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Firstly, it’s widely rumored that Kuzma wants out of Washington. That’s a good starting point here.
After all, keeping a player around who isn’t happy can have widespread issues. Meanwhile, the Wizards are struggling mightily this season – there’s little reason to keep the band together, anyway.
If the Wizards want to turn an eye to the future, this is a good deal for them. Claxton may be expendable to Brooklyn, but he’s still one of the most versatile defensive bigs in the NBA.
At 23, he’s still got plenty of room to develop too.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Brooklyn Nets & Washington Wizards Updates
So does the much younger Thomas. In fact, his shot creation abilities give him some star upside. No matter what direction the Wizards choose moving forward, adding him would be smart if Kuzma wants to leave town anyway.
If he hits his ceiling, the Wizards won’t be an easy team to count out.