When Wizards chief decision-maker Michael Winger informed Kuzma that the general framework of a trade was in place to send Kuzma to the Mavericks — a potential deal that Winger felt only lukewarm about — Kuzma told Winger he wanted to remain with the Wizards. “There was a point in time, Dallas, they definitely did want me,” Kuzma told The Athletic on Monday, before the Wizards played the Mavericks at American Airlines Center. “Winger presented me with what the trade was and obviously didn’t want to trade me and kind of left the decision up to me a little bit and asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to stay and continue to build something. And that was kind of the end of it.”
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Wizards approached Kyle Kuzma to see if he wanted to be traded to the Mavericks, which included a framework already in place. Kuzma wanted to stay in Washington instead of going to Dallas, per @JoshuaBRobbins (theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…).
Washington was seeking at least two… pic.twitter.com/Ug0weLl0Xb – 10:37 AM
The Wizards approached Kyle Kuzma to see if he wanted to be traded to the Mavericks, which included a framework already in place. Kuzma wanted to stay in Washington instead of going to Dallas, per @JoshuaBRobbins (theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…).
Washington was seeking at least two… pic.twitter.com/Ug0weLl0Xb – 10:37 AM


Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
The Washington Wizards nearly traded Kyle Kuzma to the Dallas Mavericks before the NBA trade deadline.
Why the deal didn’t happen is a case study in transparency & dialogue between a front office and player. @TheAthletic’s story:
<a href="theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…
<a href="theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0… – 10:10 AM
The Washington Wizards nearly traded Kyle Kuzma to the Dallas Mavericks before the NBA trade deadline.
Why the deal didn’t happen is a case study in transparency & dialogue between a front office and player. @TheAthletic’s story:
<a href="theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…
<a href="theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0…” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>theathletic.com/5271857/2024/0… – 10:10 AM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
16 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and two assists in 24 minutes for Daniel Gafford last night against the Wizards.
Kyle Kuzma could only laugh — “Gaff’s got the easiest job in sports now… happy for him. Very happy for him.” washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02… – 8:51 AM
16 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and two assists in 24 minutes for Daniel Gafford last night against the Wizards.
Kyle Kuzma could only laugh — “Gaff’s got the easiest job in sports now… happy for him. Very happy for him.” washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02… – 8:51 AM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Good 1st half for the Wizards in Dallas as they lead the Mavs 58-51. Tyus Jones has 10 ast already. Kyle Kuzma has 16 pts in 15 min.
Mavs are shooting 38.8%, have 13 TOs and Luka Doncic is 3-for-10 with 4 TOs. One of Wizards’ best defensive halves of the season. – 9:39 PM
Good 1st half for the Wizards in Dallas as they lead the Mavs 58-51. Tyus Jones has 10 ast already. Kyle Kuzma has 16 pts in 15 min.
Mavs are shooting 38.8%, have 13 TOs and Luka Doncic is 3-for-10 with 4 TOs. One of Wizards’ best defensive halves of the season. – 9:39 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks shooting a shade under 39 percent and just 4-of-18 from three-point land (22 percent) and trail the 9-43 Wizards 58-51 at halftime. Daniel Gafford with 14 rebounds, Luka with 13 points, 10 assists. Kyle Kuzma with 16 points for the Wiz. – 9:37 PM
Mavericks shooting a shade under 39 percent and just 4-of-18 from three-point land (22 percent) and trail the 9-43 Wizards 58-51 at halftime. Daniel Gafford with 14 rebounds, Luka with 13 points, 10 assists. Kyle Kuzma with 16 points for the Wiz. – 9:37 PM

Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Mavs starters: Green, Washington, Gafford, Irving, Doncic
WAS starters: Avdija, Kuzma, Bagley, Poole, Jones
7:40 tip @971TheFreak – 8:24 PM
Mavs starters: Green, Washington, Gafford, Irving, Doncic
WAS starters: Avdija, Kuzma, Bagley, Poole, Jones
7:40 tip @971TheFreak – 8:24 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Wizards lose to the Sixers, 119-113, on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. Tyus Jones had 25 pts, 9 ast and a career-high 6 threes. Kyle Kuzma had 21 pts and a career-high 4 blocks.
Philly beat them in the paint (74-54 PITP) and their 21-9 edge in 2nd chance pts was big. – 9:27 PM
Wizards lose to the Sixers, 119-113, on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. Tyus Jones had 25 pts, 9 ast and a career-high 6 threes. Kyle Kuzma had 21 pts and a career-high 4 blocks.
Philly beat them in the paint (74-54 PITP) and their 21-9 edge in 2nd chance pts was big. – 9:27 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
The Washington Wizards’ starters tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, as the Wizards announced:
PG: Tyus Jones
SG: Jordan Poole
SF: Deni Avdija
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Marvin Bagley III – 6:36 PM
The Washington Wizards’ starters tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, as the Wizards announced:
PG: Tyus Jones
SG: Jordan Poole
SF: Deni Avdija
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Marvin Bagley III – 6:36 PM
More on this storyline
Asked by The Athletic why he told Winger he wanted to remain with the Wizards instead of joining the Mavericks, Kuzma answered, “In my career, I won a championship. So, I understand that when we play this game of basketball it’s not about contending for a playoff spot. It’s about contending for an NBA championship. There’s only like three or four contenders — true contenders. I just felt like our timelines didn’t line up.” -via The Athletic / February 13, 2024
Josh Robbins: Final: Mavericks 112, Wizards 104 Avdija: 25 pts., 7 rebs., 3 assts. Kuzma: 23 pts., 8 rebs. Jones: 14 pts., 3 rebs., 16 assts. Doncic: 26 pts., 11 rebs., 15 assts. Gafford: 16 pts., 17 rebs., 2 assts., 5 blocks -via Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins / February 12, 2024
Josh Robbins: Final: Sixers 119, Wizards 113 Jones: 25 pts., 3 rebs., 9 assts. Avdija: 21 pts., 13 rebs., 5 assts. Kuzma: 21 pts., 3 rebs., 5 assts. Maxey: 28 pts., 9 rebs., 7 assts. Second-chance points: Sixers 21, Wizards 9 Paint points: Sixers 74, Wizards 54 -via Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins / February 10, 2024