Congratulations if your NBA team has 20 wins at this point in the season. You support a contender. Only a handful of teams have passed that threshold. They’re the best teams in the NBA.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of those teams. Joel Embiid is the reigning MVP. Tyrese Maxey is breaking out as a superstar. The Sixers are in the title picture.
Interestingly, this team made something of a downgrade to their roster on paper this year. The Sixers traded James Harden, and they didn’t receive a star in return. They’re already contenders; now, they have the assets to improve.
Could they make a move for Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards?
NBA Trade Proposal: Philadelphia 76ers Land Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma
Washington Wizards Receive: F/C Marcus Morris Sr., F Nicolas Batum, F Robert Covington, 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC via PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G Tyus Jones
The Wizards do not have 20 wins. They aren’t even close. Realistically, this team would be lucky to have 20 wins by the end of the 2023-24 season.
Or, depending on your point of view, unlucky. The Wizards are likely happy to lose games this year. After all, this team was stuck in the middle for a long time. When they traded Bradley Beal this summer, the Wizards made a decision – it’s time to rebuild.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
So, they need to be looking ahead to the 2024 draft. The Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA, and that’s exactly where they want to be.
Could they improve their lottery odds by moving Kuzma?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Sure. With that said, the Wizards don’t need any help in that regard. They’re one of the worst teams in the NBA. They could justify keeping Kuzma and Jones on their roster in hopes of turning this rebuild around more quickly than expected.
On the other hand, having Kuzma’s money on the books isn’t ideal for a rebuilding team. The Wizards would do well to get off of his money.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Due to the size of his deal, they may not be able to find an unprotected first-rounder in exchange for Kuzma. If they include Jones? That’s a different story. The Wizards are clearing their cap sheet with this deal, but they’re also picking up a valuable asset.
Should the Sixers part with that asset?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
Maxey’s star turn has been the story of the season for the Sixers. As it turned out, they didn’t need Harden. Now, they could use a steady hand who can orchestrate some offense without turning the ball over while spacing the floor for Maxey and Embiid.
Jones is precisely that player. He leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio on an annual basis. Of course, the Sixers aren’t primarily doing this deal to land Jones. They’re doing it to land Kuzma.
By pairing him with Tobias Harris and Embiid in the frontcourt, the Sixers could play some bully ball. Meanwhile, they wouldn’t be parting with much in terms of mobility in the process.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Kuzma’s do-it-all skillset should make the Sixers a better team. That’s a scary thought – they’re already contenders, after all.
