The NBA is all about assets. The league is divided into buyers and sellers. Depending on where your team stands, they either want good players or draft capital. What should the Utah Jazz want?
It’s a difficult call. This team could go in either direction. The Jazz have a solid roster, but it’s not likely to contend for an NBA title. With that said, they’ve also got one of the most impressive collections of draft capital in the NBA. The Jazz could be buyers, and they could be sellers.
By contrast, there’s no ambiguity about where the Washington Wizards stand. This team should be sellers. The Wizards already traded Bradley Beal this summer. Still, Kyle Kuzma sticks out like a sore thumb on this roster. Could the Wizards trade him to the Jazz?
The Trade Proposal
Washington Wizards receive: F/C John Collins, 2025 First-Round Pick (CLE via UTA)
Utah Jazz receive: F Kyle Kuzma
With that in mind, teams may want to see how the season unfolds before they make moves. That’s reasonable. Sometimes, the sum is greater than the parts. A team may see themselves as rebuilding, but if they start playing well, they could reassess. In fact, that might be exactly what happened to the Jazz last season.
Entering the season, this team felt like as strong of a candidate to tank for Victor Wembanyama as anyone else. Instead, the Jazz started the season on a tear. They’d eventually cool down, but still: this team can compete. IS that why they acquired Collins this summer?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & Utah Jazz Updates
Perhaps. That’s another reason why Utah may want to hold out on this type of deal – if Collins is playing well, they’ll prefer to keep their pick. Luckily, they have to hold out. The Jazz just acquired Collins, so they can’t legally trade him yet. As a matter of fact, the Wizards are subject to similar restrictions with Kuzma. Should they trade him this year at all?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Sure, the Wizards could get off to a surprisingly strong start as well. It doesn’t feel likely. Without Beal, this team does not have the talent to make a playoff run. The Wizards should rebuild.
What should they expect from Kuzma? A first-round pick. That’s likely to be his value on the open market. The Wizards should be happy to land one in 2025. Next year’s class is seen as weak. If the Wizards have bad lottery luck ahead of a stronger 2025 class, they could use this pick in an effort to trade up.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & Utah Jazz Updates
What happens to Collins? Time will tell. He’s young enough to be part of a rebuilding process. Still, even if the Wizards are simply absorbing his contract in order to receive a first-rounder, this deal is worth their time. Is it worth Utah’s?
Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal
We can’t stress this enough – the Jazz should wait and see before making this trade. If Collins is playing well, they should pass on it. Alternatively, if they’re playing poorly, they ought to hang onto this first-round pick.
On the other hand, let’s assume that the circumstances are perfect. The Jazz are on track to make the playoffs, and Collins is not a major reason why. In that event, they’re likely to look to upgrade Collins. Kuzma is an upgrade.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & Utah Jazz Updates
How so? He’s a better shot-creator and playmaker. Kuzma is a more dynamic offensive player than Collins. He’ll give the Jazz a new dimension in their attack. All told, Utah should be keeping an eye on Kuzma – if they’re buyers in the first place, that is.
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