The 2023-24 NBA regular season has not been kind to the Washington Wizards. They knew they were heading into a rebuild after trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal, but things have been a real struggle for them this season.
Had it not been for the historic losing streak the Detroit Pistons went on, there would be more focus on how inept the product has been on the court in Washington. The Wizards are 7-35 and there hasn’t been much to get excited about.
As one of the clear-cut sellers ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, the Wizards have been active in negotiations. They have a few players that would be useful to contending teams around the league, such as Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bilal Coulibaly, Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards Updates
Jones has shown the production he provided off the bench was no fluke. He has one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA and can lead an offense whether it is as a starter or coming off the bench. Set to hit unrestricted free agency, he would probably prefer landing with a team he can stay in the starting five for.
Kuzma, who has a contract that is considered as a positive asset around the NBA, has a high asking price set. Teams will need to fork over multiple assets, whether it is draft compensation or young players, to land him.
Veteran center Daniel Gafford is another name to keep an eye on. If the Wizards receive a strong offer for him, he could be had. Essentially, every player who is on the roster could be acquired for the right price.
However, there is one player Washington has no interest in parting ways with. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the only player the Wizards will rebuff trade talks on is Bilal Coulibaly.
“The reality is there’s one player that is off the table for the Wizards, and that’s their top pick in last year’s draft, Bilal Coulibaly,” said Charania during an appearance on Run It Back on FanDuel TV.
Coulibaly, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has been one of the only bright spots for Washington this season. He is averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.3 minutes per game.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bilal Coulibaly, Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards Updates
While his statistics are modest, he is further along in his development than many people thought he would be. He has shown a consistent jump shot, making 39.8 percent of his 3-point attempts to this point.
The Wizards have begun putting more responsibility on his plate, as the ball has been in his hands more with the second unit. Expect that to continue growing, especially if they move some of the other veterans on the roster, opening up even more opportunities for Coulibaly in the second half of the season.
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