NBA fans can be patient with losing. If their team owns their draft picks, that’s especially true. There is always hope during a rebuild. With that said, sometimes, those hopes can be dashed.
A fanbase’s patience can run out. For example, fans of the Charlotte Hornets may be getting tired of losing. This team hasn’t had a solid path to the playoffs for most of the last several years.
By now, they could justify making a significant trade if they think it could improve their performance. On the other hand, the Washington Wizards deserve some patience.
This team just started rebuilding. They should be looking at trades that make them worse if they come with assets.
Could they send Kyle Kuzma to the Hornets with that in mind?
NBA Trade Proposal: Charlotte Hornets Land Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma
Washington Wizards Receive: F Gordon Hayward, 2025 First-Round Pick (Lottery Protected – CHA)
Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, F Danilo Gallinari
Following this deal, Wizards fans will suddenly be rooting for the Hornets. After all, they’ll need them to escape the lottery. Otherwise, they won’t get much of anything for Kuzma.
There are a lot of these types of linkages around the NBA. For example, every game that the Brooklyn Nets lose is a win for the Houston Rockets. They control their draft through to 2027.
Moreover, fans of the Thunder are rooting for a lot of teams to lose – or win, depending on the protections around the pick that they own.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets Updates
This is the modern NBA. Draft capital is the currency that makes the league go around. It gets passed around more than it ever has in this league.
Should the Hornets give any up for Kuzma?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal
Some Hornets fans won’t love this deal. Hayward’s contract is just about to expire. Now they’re going to flip it for another long-term deal for a non-star wing? Are we sure about this?
No. On the other hand, the Hornets could use the same logic to bring in Kuzma that they did when bringing in Hayward. This small market team generally struggles to bring in top-end talent.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Kuzma is a good player. What else matters? His fit with the team is solid enough, too. The Hornets could shift Brandon Miller to the two and have Kuzma share the forward positions with Miles Bridges.
Should the Wizards help them put that group together?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
In a vacuum, some will feel that Kuzma is worth more than this. If we were strictly looking at his current production, he might be. Unfortunately, we have to take more into account.
Kuzma is on a significant deal for several more years, and he’s an inefficient three-point shooter. So, a lottery protected first feels like market value.
If all goes well, acquiring Kuzma will help the Hornets work their way out of the lottery. So, this would be a first-round pick. That’s a good value for a player like Kuzma.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Meanwhile, an expiring contract like Hayward’s has value for the Wizards too. They’re shedding a lot of cap space by making this move. They’ll also be getting worse, but Wizards fans should live with that – for now.
