Risky 76ers Trade Proposal Takes Chance on Controversial Forward

The Philadelphia 76ers are thriving in the post-James Harden era, jumping out to an impressive 8-1 start and standing atop the Eastern Conference. Though Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid look like the league's next great duo, that shouldn't stop the team from making a big outside splash, however.

In fact, one recently proposed trade by Bleacher Report nets the team an intriguing forward.

76ers Trade Rumors: Adding Kyle Kuzma?

In this hypothetical, Philadelphia acquires Washington Wizards stud Kyle Kuzma in exchange for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, Danuel House Jr. and a 2026 first-round pick.

The mere mention of Kuzma's name is sure to rile up fans on both sides of the debate. He's undoubtedly talented on the offensive side of the ball, where he's continued to make strides as a scorer. The 28-year-old is coming off of his first season with 20 PPG last year, and he's off to an even better start in 2023-24 with a mark of 24.1.

That being said, Kuzma's defensive skills and basketball IQ have left a lot to be desired. At 6-foot-9 he has the size to make a big impact, but he lacks the strength (221 pounds) to limit the athletically gifted forwards that dominate today's NBA. He posted a dismal 117 defensive rating last season for Washington, and that number's ballooned to 120 this campaign.

There's also inexcusable mental mistakes that unfortunately follow Kuzma, despite him being in his seventh season as a pro.

Still, it's easy to see how Kuzma would fit into the 76ers' lineup. He'd provide another legitimate offensive threat who offers the scoring punch needed to support Maxey and Embiid on nights when they're hounded by opposing defenses. Playing alongside those two should also help create open looks for Kuzma, who's unafraid to shoot from deep but struggled with efficiency at his current volume.

Currently touting the eighth-best defensive rating in the league as well, adding Kuzma to the mix shouldn't derail a team that's clearly bought into Nick Nurse's philosophy. The offensive upside of this deal, especially considering the talent the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have, makes it worth considering at the very least.

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