Suns Given Best Odds to Land Kyle Kuzma if Traded
The Phoenix Suns are heavily involved in trade talks with Jae Crowder set to depart the organization at any time now.
The Suns reportedly want a "starting-caliber player" in return for Crowder, and as of now, it's been difficult to sell teams on trading for the power forward.
However, that hasn't stopped a handful of deals from being discussed.
Phoenix reportedly declined a trade offer from the Washington Wizards that included forward Rui Hachimura. Another three-team deal the Suns were involved in reportedly fell apart after the Utah Jazz asked for multiple first-round picks.
There's a handful of ideal prospects that would arrive in exchange for Crowder, yet the best (and biggest) name to emerge has been Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma, currently averaging 21.3 points on 46% shooting with 7.5 rebounds per night, is expected to remain with Washington according to oddsmakers.
Yet if he is indeed traded, books such as BetVirginia like the prospects of Phoenix landing his talents.
"As is sometimes the case, the most likely scenario that BetVirginia envisions is inertia, meaning that Kuzma stays with the Wizards (47.6%, or betting odds of +110). The Wizards are currently +40000 with CaesarsSportsbook Virginia to win the NBA championship," said Bill Ordine.
"The most likely other-team, according to BetVirginia’s crystal ball, is Phoenix, a middle-tier contender in the Western Conference. Washington beat the Suns twice in eight days in late December. In the most recent of those two games, a 127-102 home win on Dec. 28, Kuzma had 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists. In Phoenix, in a 113-110 Washington win, Kuzma had 29 points, six rebounds and six assists."
Kuzma would provide an excellent secondary scoring option behind Devin Booker, but would Washington deal him? NBA insider Shams Charania has his doubts.
"I really think the Wizards are waiting and seeing how this team develops over the course of this month [and] coming up in January," Charania said.
"We saw what the Wizards last year, moving Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, a few guys right at the deadline. They wanted to see that team figure it out. I think similarly this year, Bradley Beal missed some time with a hamstring injury, you want to see how Kristaps Porzingis, [Kyle] Kuzma and Beal continue to play with each other going into February.
"If they don't turn it around then I think given Kuzma's status, he's got a player option for next year, there are teams interested [such as] Phoenix, Atlanta. He's going to have a marketplace for sure ... I think the Wizards are going to keep an open mind but right now the way Kuz is playing, you want to see this through."
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9.
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