Bradley Beal is being traded to Phoenix, and now we have clarity on the future of a second member of the departing DC Big 3.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski, Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and will become a free agent, opening up bidding for someone Woj calls “one of the marketplace’s most prominent players,” although he did say that “a return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility.”
In addition to that news, Woj reports that the Suns-Wizards deal will also see Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd sent to Phoenix with Beal, shedding another $3.75 million in salary to total just over $50 million heading to Phoenix – giving Washington a trade exemption of about $9 million.
Kuzma was expected to opt out and test free agency, as he could make more as an unrestricted free agent than he could in an extension with the Wizards, and he gets that chance by opting out now as Washington starts a rebuild.
The 27-year-old, who came to DC from the Lakers as part of a five-team mega-trade in the summer of 2021, averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 35.0 minutes over 64 games last season.
His opt-out leaves question only about Kristaps Porzingis, who holds a $36 million option of his own.
In regards to the deal, the Wizards sending Goodwin and Todd to Phoenix lowers their potential 2024-25 salary obligations down to five players on the current roster – potentially four, as Xavier Cooks’ $2.02 million salary is not guaranteed. Daniel Gafford, who would be in year two of his three-year, $40.2 million extension, is the only guaranteed contract, while the team has options on Johnny Davis and Corey Kispert and a qualifying offer on Deni Avdija.
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