It is undeniable that Kyle Kuzma is regarded as one of the most talented forwards in today’s NBA and is part of one of the most depleted franchises. Recognizing this, the Dallas Mavericks set their sights on him midway through the 2023-24 season, seeking to add him to their roster. However, the 6’9” forward declined the opportunity. So, while some would believe that he would have regrets about his choice after seeing the Mavs reach the NBA Finals, the Michigan native emphasized that that was not the case. Instead, he is certain that his decision only helped Jason Kidd’s team to pursue two players better suited to their playing style and identity.
Kuzma on turning down the Mavericks
While the combination of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic began to show its magic from the early stages of the 2023-24 season, averaging a combined 59.0 points per game, the team evidently had defensive woes when both guards were on the court. Consequently, they were unable to have a strong position in the Western Conference.
As the Mavs evaluated the smallest roster adjustments, they initially spotted Kuz as their ideal candidate, but the 2020 NBA Champion turned them down . Reflecting on Dallas’ impressive run from last season, he expressed no regret, asserting that Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington were better fitted for the team than he would have been.
"Absolutely not. A big part of the Mavericks becoming who they were was getting an extra center and a forward," Kuzma said in an interview with Josh Robbins. "If I would’ve went there, that wouldn’t have happened, getting two impact players. And when you look at who won the championship, it wasn’t a team with (just) three or four players; it was a team with six or seven really good players - Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford. They had some players. So you need more players."
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Kyle raised a valid point
In his three seasons with the Wizards, Kuzma has only excelled as a scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game, which justifies his place as a superior offensive option compared to both Gafford and Washington. However, the Mavericks were not seeking a scorer; they needed big men who could dominate around the rim and serve as defensive anchors. As a result, after they acquired PJ and Gafford, the team quickly began to click, winning 22 of their final 31 regular-season games.
Moreover, during the postseason, Dallas logged the fifth-best defensive rating (110.7) and was third in rebounds per game (43.1) largely due to the help provided by Daniel and PJ, who contributed to filling the voids of the team on both ends of the court.
While Kuz might have missed his chance to feature in the championship round, the Mavs’ decision to pursue the other two players over him proved to be a more effective choice, both in terms of team cohesion and financial considerations.
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