Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has had a career season in D.C., averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game on a 54.4 true shooting percentage.

Clearly developing as a scorer and playmaker since being traded to the Wizards in a five-team deal back in 2021, the Michigan nativeā€™s fit with Washington isnā€™t perfect but it has helped the Wizards be legitimate playoff contenders and keep the potential frustrations of franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal at bay.

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Nonetheless, in discussing his future in D.C. with NBC Sportsā€™ Chase Hughes, Kuzma candidly acknowledges that heā€™ll be taking the free agency process seriously. It will be his first team entering free agency, as the 27-year-old signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

ā€œI have the opportunity to go through that process, go through team pitches and go through the backend of being a free agent and learning and getting to know different people,ā€ Kuzma says of becoming a free agent.

ā€œAt the end of the day, in this league, people move all the time, whether thatā€™s coaches, GMs, players, staffs, front office people. You may end up at a new place and you never know who youā€™re going to cross paths with. Everything is energy,ā€ he says.

After trading away former ninth overall pick Rui Hachimura to clear up a positional logjam at forward, Washington will likely be motivated to keep Kuzma in D.C. Especially as Kuzma remains the Wizardsā€™ most productive frontcourt player, aside from former fourth overall pick Kristaps Porzingis.