NBA Rumor: Is Kyle Kuzma Kings' big free agent target?

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Is Monte McNair about to swing for the fences?

The Sacramento Kings’ general manager has positioned himself strongly heading into an all important free agency window that starts Friday, June 30 at 3 PM PST. Rumors are swirling on Tuesday that the Kings might have a big fish in their sights.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo.com, Kyle Kuzma is the name that is coming up with regards to Sacramento.

“The name that’s gained plenty of momentum as a potential Sacramento target is Kuzma, who once thrived down the road in Los Angeles and was nearly dealt to the Kings in 2021 before the Lakers rerouted Kuzma to the Wizards instead and acquired Russell Westbrook. Even with a new deal for Sabonis, plus the Kings expectation to bring back versatile forward Trey Lyles, sources said, Sacramento could have more than $25 million to play with in cap room, according to salary projections provided to Yahoo Sports.”

There is a lot to unpack here, but a lot of this lines up with what we have heard here at The Kings Beat.

After moving Richaun Holmes, along with the No. 24 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for cap space, an extension for Sabonis is tops on the list. Lyles professed his wishes to return to the team during his exit interviews and gives the team budget friendly depth heading into free agency.

Lyles also has a very small cap hold that allows the Kings to go out and shop before coming back and locking down the 27-year-old forward/center.

As for Kuzma, he was listed under “big game hunting” in our breakdown of potential forwards on Monday. If the Kings make a run at the 27-year-old stretch four, it won’t be the first time. Kuzma, along with Montrezl Harrell, were almost acquired by McNair back in July of 2021 for shooting guard Buddy Hield. That deal fell through in dramatic fashion, which in the long run, may have been a blessing in disguise for the Kings.

We’ll get into Kuzma’s fit with the Kings, but the ramifications of acquiring a player of this caliber has an immediate impact on Sacramento’s own free agent forward, Harrison Barnes.

According to a league source, a deal to bring Barnes back was an estimated 85 percent done around three weeks ago, but the Kings have gone radio silent since. Barnes has left a door open for a possible return, after four and a half seasons with the team, but that option seems to be dwindling at this time.

Why Kuzma?

This is pretty simple. Despite a strong workout in Sacramento during the 2017 NBA Draft process, the Kings passed on the Utah star twice, at picks No. 15 and No. 20. Neither Justin Jackson, nor Harry Giles worked out for the Kings, while Kuzma has gone on to become an incredibly productive player for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards.

Listed as 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot wingspan, Kuzma has the length, athleticism and overall game that would fit perfectly into the Kings’ system. He averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Wizards last season while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from long range.

While Kuzma’s shooting numbers weren’t great, there is a chance that they improve dramatically in a system with Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox running the show. He is excellent in transition, finishes around the rim at a high clip and he’s shot over 36 percent from three twice in his six-year NBA career.

On the defensive side of the ball, Kuzma is better than expected. He ran an offensive rating of 112.9 and a defensive rating of 112.6 for a +.3 net rating last season on a 35 win Wizards team.

His defensive metrics per NBA.com show a player with an overall defensive field goal percentage of -3.3. He holds his opponents to a 3-point percentage of 32.7 percent (-3.4) and he only gets better the closer to the basket he is defending, including a stellar -6.4 percent within six feet.

He isn’t the natural shotblocker that the Kings could use, averaging just .5 swats per game for his career. But he’s a solid rebounder, posting 7.2 boards per game last season and 8.5 the year before. Most of his boards come on the defensive glass, which is a plus for the Kings.

His potential as a switchable piece on both ends of the court with Keegan Murray is enticing and his ability to space the floor as both a shooter and transition player could make the Kings’ offense even more potent.

In addition to his fit with the Kings’ current roster, Kuzma is three years younger than Barnes, and if McNair can lock him up as well as settle on an extension for Sabonis, Sacramento would have the core of Fox, Sabonis, Murray, Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell and Kuzma all locked in place for a minimum of two years.

Downside

Kuzma loves the bright lights of the big city. It’s only an issue if he makes it one. Sacramento is a low key family environment that has all of a sudden become all about basketball again after 16 years of being lost in the woods.

If Kuzma buys in, he is the missing piece. If he becomes entranced in what he’s missing, then the Kings, and he, will have an issue.

On the offensive side of the ball, Kuzma will have to understand his role and play to his strengths. He can be efficient and he can also have his turn taking over the offense, but it will have to come in the flow of the game.

Lastly, replacing Barnes the player is one aspect of the puzzle. Barnes the leader in the locker room, in the community and as a voice of social change will be difficult. This isn’t on Kuzma, but the rest of the group needs to use what they learned from Barnes over the last four-plus seasons and carry the torch.