How the trades of Dejounte Murray and Mikal Bridges affect the value of Kyle Kuzma

The dust has largely settled on the free agency front, as most of the biggest names have already signed their contracts with the teams they will play for in the 2024-25 season. Most teams with salary cap space have also spent money on players they feel are a perfect fit for their roster, so for teams looking to add to their roster, trades seem to be the way to go. In particular, the Washington Wizards, who were close to being traded at the 2024 trade deadline, could attract plenty of interest in combo forward Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma garnered a ton of trade interest in February, with the Dallas Mavericks being one of the teams that wanted the 28-year-old forward. The Wizards ended up keeping him – but it seems like that decision will benefit Washington going forward. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, they now want to demand multiple first-round picks in any Kuzma trade, largely due to the returns Dejounte Murray and Mikal Bridges brought to the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets, respectively.

Murray, it will be recalled, gave the Hawks two first-round picks in return, as well as former lottery pick Dyson Daniels. The Hawks also received Larry Nance Jr., someone they could trade to a team that needed more depth in the frontcourt.

And then there’s the godfather offer the New York Knicks made for Mikal Bridges. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks, a pick swap, and a second-round pick; it was simply an offer the Nets couldn’t refuse.

Unfortunately, the Wizards have to temper their expectations. While Kyle Kuzma is a talented player, he may not be as attractive a trade target for rival teams as Murray and Bridges. But with few options left on the free agent market, the Wizards could well be able to fetch a huge trade price.

Analyzing Kyle Kuzma’s Trade Value

Compared to Dejounte Murray and Mikal Bridges, Kyle Kuzma is the worst trade partner of the three. That’s not to say that Kuzma is a bad player who can’t help a winning team. Quite the opposite; he’s a solid rebounder, a versatile scorer, and could also be a helpful defensive figure on the right team with the right coaching. At 6’10”, he offers offensive potential and versatility in the matchup.

The reigning champion Boston Celtics have shown that position flexibility is crucial for any team competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Kuzma definitely has the size to compete in the playoffs, which is very important for any team giving up future first-round picks to acquire his services.

However, Kyle Kuzma’s pedigree pales in comparison to that of Murray and Bridges. Murray, for example, is a former All-Star. He’s also a better ball handler, playmaker and shooter than Kuzma. Perhaps on a team with more offensive weapons, Murray could find his All-Defensive Team self again after a rough few years on defense.

Bridges has proven in the past, despite his struggles as the Nets’ first option, that he can be a high-level complementary player on a winning team. The Phoenix Suns flourished when Bridges was there, making the NBA Finals in 2021 and posting the best record in the NBA in 2022. Bridges is as good a perimeter defender as you could imagine, and his experience as the first option in Brooklyn means he now has more pressure off the dribble when teams focus on Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

It’s fair to wonder how effective Kyle Kuzma will be in a very limited role. With the Wizards, he was able to run the offense in a way that he wouldn’t be allowed to if he moved to a competitive team. Kuzma is a below-average three-point shooter and for someone who isn’t an elite playmaker, he’s incredibly prone to turnovers. But his ability to create shots at his size and his helpfulness at the basket still make Kuzma a useful player, especially if his contract is very attractive to other teams.

Which teams are potential trade partners for the Wizards?

The Sacramento Kings have been looking for a new player for some time now, and reports suggest they remain interested in Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma would give the Kings some much-needed offensive shot development for a player with the size of a forward. However, the Kings seem more focused on a potential deal involving Lauri Markkanen.

Because of their shared history, the Lakers are always linked to a possible Kuzma trade with the Wizards. The Lakers were notoriously passive in the offseason. Will signing Kuzma be their big coup?