Kyle Kuzma has declined his 2023-24 player option with the Washington Wizards, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Kuzma becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
Kuzma averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Wizards in 2022-23 while shooting 44.8% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. The 27-year-old is set to make much more on the open market than the $13 million he would have earned next season if he didn’t decline his player option.
A Michigan native, Kuzma has career averages of 16.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers and Wizards. He helped Los Angeles win the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma & Washington Wizards Updates
The Phoenix Suns were going to pursue Kuzma in free agency before acquiring All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal from the Wizards, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Fischer says there no longer appears to be a pathway for the Suns to get Kuzma.
“There no longer appears a pathway for the Suns to bring in Kyle Kuzma, whom Phoenix has targeted for several seasons, sources said,” Fischer wrote. “Kuzma has said he intends to decline his $13 million player option for 2023-24 to test free agency. You can chalk up Kuzma as another forward who’s being connected of late to both Indiana and Houston as a potential free-agent target.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma & Washington Wizards Updates
It will be fascinating to see where Kuzma is playing next season. The talented swingman has established himself as one of the top scorers in the NBA. The Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets are expected to meet with Kuzma once free agency starts, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
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