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3 obvious reasons the Knicks shouldn’t trade for Kyle Kuzma

By Zachary Bachar

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks at Capital One Arena on November 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks at Capital One Arena on November 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks have been on a tear as of late, winning seven straight games. That puts them at 17-13 on the season, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference. As a result, the front office appears to be looking into potential trades to help further improve the roster.

One such rumored trade target is Kyle Kuzma, who has been having a breakout season for the Washington Wizards. The 27-year-old is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on respectable 46-34-69 shooting splits.

It hasn’t resulted in wins for Washington, though. The Wiz have lost 11 of their last 12 games and currently own a record of 11-18. This has led many to believe that they could strip down the roster, which includes dealing away Kuzma.

However, the Knicks should steer clear of any trade discussions involving the former first-round pick.

3 reasons the Knicks shouldn’t attempt to acquire Kyle Kuzma

3. Kuzma’s short-term contract details

It’s worth noting that part of the reason why Kuzma is available in trade talks is due to the remainder of his contract. He’s signed for the rest of this year, then has a $13 million player option for next season.

He’ll likely decline that option since it’s almost a certainty that he’ll be offered a deal worth more than $13 million annually in free agency next summer. With the Knicks having four separate players on contracts that run through 2025, they might not be able to re-sign Kuzma in July.

Given that potential outcome, it wouldn’t be smart to part with legitimate assets for what could end up being a mere four months of Kuzma.

If they do end up trading for him and decide to pay him, it would likely lower the team’s overall ceiling. A Brunson-Barrett-Kuzma-Randle core is good enough to make the postseason and even win a series, but they’d have virtually no chance at legitimately contending for a title.

They would also have given up a combination of players/picks to trade for Kuzma in that scenario, so there wouldn’t be enough left over to deal for a superstar that could elevate the roster to championship-caliber status.

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