Utah Jazz: Could They Have A Merry Kuzmas After All?

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NBACentral @TheNBACentral

There's a rising belief leaguewide that Kyle Kuzma is ‘gettable’ between now and the trade deadline, per @TheSteinLine “Based on the rumbles I've heard, I struggle to envision Kuzma wanting to stay in the nation's capital beyond this season.” 👀 (Via marcstein.substack.com/p/please-nba-n…)

Utah Jazz: Could They Have A Merry Kuzmas After All?

The Jazz are missing something. [Aside from those lemony jerseys they wore last night in a loss at San Antonio.] They already have one surefire All-Star candidate for the event they’re hosting in 2023 here in Utah in Lauri Markkanen.

But: what if they found a way to bring another piece of the jigsaw puzzle BACK to Utah. What if they found a way to bring TWO pieces back here?

• Kyle Kuzma is having a career resurgence

• He’s admittedly had “some” interest in playing here

• Would Kuz come back if his Washington [and old Runnin’ Utes] teammate Delon Wright was down?

Brett Usher @UsherNBA

Kyle Kuzma with 32 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Friday’s win. Easily a top-50 player. #DCAboveAll

The problems Kuz has seem to come from the fact that he’s not the A1 guy with the Wizards. [Bradley Beal is.] But, could Kyle Kuzma be that man in Utah?

We get into that in the third segment of this week’s Jazz podcast. As always, we like to entertain, and so without further adieu, our second segment will feature someone you know and love singing a holiday favorite.

In the meantime, feel free to check out what I wrote about Kuz’s return to Utah over the weekend.

Merry Kuzmas: Kyle Kuzma Returns To Utah, Leaves With An L, But Shares Some Fond Memories As Well

When you have Jazz coach Will Hardy chatting with Kuz like he was even after the Utes alum’s team lost here, it makes for some interesting chatter.

So it got me to thinking…Who on the Jazz could Washington take for Kuz and Delon Wright if a trade were to take place? Initially, I came to the conclusion of Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt for Kyle Kuzma and Delon Wright. It worked. [I also get into why the Jazz wouldn’t be as willing to deal Collin Sexton.]

But, then I thought of another idea. Why not see if the RealGM Trade Simulator would take the following three players for Kuz and Delon—and keep Beasley who seems to like it here?

1. Rudy Gay [it’s obvious he’s biding time here and he’s FROM the DMV]

2. Dok [fan fave but the Wizards could use some beef]

3. Vando [if we’re bringing in Kuz he’s expendable IMHO]

SUCCESS! Frankly, it surprised the hell out of me. [Try the trade simulator out for yourself at the link above.]

Finally: nobody really seems to know what the Jazz are planning to do as the trade deadline approaches as well as All-Star Weekend in Utah’s capital city. I wouldn’t put it past Danny Ainge and Jazz brass to pull a stunner of a trade like this, and I kind of think Coach Hardy has been toying with the 3-big lineup all season to see if a Kuz/Lauri type All-Star combo might actually work in today’s NBA [Kuz is 6-10; Vando 6-8.]. Well, the Jazz do have a winning record.

Thanks again for listening to and reading Brian Vs. Utah. Subscribers, be sure to check your Promotions/Junk folders, as I’ve been told by other subscribers recent updates are landing there. We’re now on Facebook at: Brian Vs. Utah. Feel free to leave a like, a comment or consider subscribing!