The NBA is a work environment like any other. Each player is an employee, and they each have a salary. In theory, they’re paid according to what they provide. As in any workplace, it doesn’t always go that way.
Sometimes, players end up getting overpaid. It happens. After all, players aren’t strictly paid according to their current production. They’re also paid according to their expected production. When that future production doesn’t align with expectations, you get a player on a bad contract.
Evan Fournier of the New York Knicks has been on such a deal for a couple of seasons now. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards may regret giving Kyle Kuzma the contract they did this summer. His production justifies his price point, but the Wizards cannot pay for it.
Would the Knicks be?
The Trade Proposal
Washington Wizards Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, G/F DaQuan Jeffries, F Dylan Windler, 2024 First-Round Pick (Top 10 Protected – DAL via NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F Kyle Kuzma
The NBA may be a work environment. It’s also a marketplace. Just like any marketplace, values will change. Today’s bad contract may be tomorrow’s steal.
Look at Fournier. When he first fell out of the Knicks’ rotation, it was seen as a vast overpay. We’re not saying that Fournier’s contract isn’t a hindrance, but the perception around it has changed – and not just because it’s expiring.
The dollar value is simply different than it was when Fournier signed. Will the same thing happen with Kuzma? Time will tell. Inevitably, his value will change as he nears the end of his deal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks Updates
It’s typically easier to move an expiring contract. Yet, even the annual value may be seen differently as the cap continues to spike.
Should the Knicks take that money on?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks have been especially well managed from a financial point of view in recent years. This team’s salary sheet is lined with mid-sized deals. Every deal in their books isn’t perfect, but they don’t have a single contract that, if they really wanted to, they couldn’t move.
With that in mind, they can accommodate Kuzma. The Knicks would still be in a good financial position after making this move. As for basketball, he’s an interesting fit.
In all likelihood, he’d begin his tenure with this team by starting at the three. Will that make sense with Julius Randle at the four? It may. If it doesn’t, the Knicks can trade Randle.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks Updates
In simpler terms, this is a talent grab for New York. They’re parting with a pick that’s likely to land near the end of the first round and nothing else that they value.
Should the Wizards accept that little for Kuzma?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
The Knicks are especially well-managed. Most teams are not. With that in mind, the Wizards may not find a robust market for Kuzma. He’s on an expensive, long-term deal. A lot of teams will panic at the sight of his price tag.
So, they should be happy with this deal. Sure, the Mavericks’ pick will likely land in the late first round. On the plus side, it’s overwhelmingly likely to convey.
Barring a catastrophic injury to Luka Doncic, this will be a first-round pick for a Wizards team in need of young talent. Moreover, they should be content to simply get Kuzma’s money off of the books.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks Updates
Every deal that the Wizards are taking back here is expiring. This deal will be of no consequence to their long-term plans. That’s perfect – any workplace needs a vision for its future.
