NBA Champion Will Reportedly Become A Free Agent
On Thursday evening, the 2023 NBA Draft will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
With the offseason in full swing, there have been many rumors around the league about free agents and potential trades.
One of the most recent reports comes from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who shared that 2020 NBA Champion Kyle Kuzma will decline his player option and become a free agent.
Via Wojnarowski: "ESPN Sources: As expected, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and become a free agent. Kuzma will be one of the marketplace’s most prominent players. A return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility."
Kuzma spent the first four seasons of his pro career with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected with the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Utah.
The 27-year-old averaged 15.2 points per contest over 276 regular season games with the franchise and helped lead them to the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat.
During the summer of 2021, he was traded to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Lakers.
Despite Kuzma playing well, the Wizards have been unable to make the NBA Playoffs in either of his first two seasons on the team.
This past year, he averaged a productive 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest while shooting 44.8% from the field.
Free agency will officially begin on June 30, and Kuzma will be among the best players on the market.
