Kyle Kuzma is about to enter what could be the most important year of his NBA career. After what has been a roller coaster ride with the Milwaukee Bucks thus far, the forward is set to play out the year on an expiring contract. If he doesn't perform well, there is no telling where things could stand next year when he is due for a new deal. He has a chance to raise or decrease his value.
Kuzma's value isn't high around the league
So many people have called Kyle Kuzma overrated that he might actually be a little underrated at this point. Yes, he has his flaws and is bound to make a bone-headed play here and there, but he actually wasn't terrible for the Bucks this past season. He will need to shake that narrative if he wants to cash out next offseason.
The NBA's current view on Kuzma was captured perfectly by The Athletic's Jovan Buha in a recent mailbag episode. When assessing potential Los Angeles Lakers free agent targets for next summer, he roped Kuzma in with the players he would "want to stay away from," ranking him behind both Cam Johnson and De'Andre Hunter.
If Kuzma doesn't play well, there is no telling what his next deal could look like. It wouldn't be close to the $20.5 million he will take home this coming season. He could follow LeBron James' path and take one of the biggest pay cuts in the league, though it would be for very different reasons. This is his opportunity to prove that he can be a useful piece on a team with lofty aspirations.
Kuzma will have a runway to prove himself
As currently constructed, the Milwaukee Bucks are set up to help Kuzma shake this narrative. With no clear-cut starting power forward, he feels like the obvious candidate for the job, giving Taylor Jenkins an experienced veteran to begin games and take pressure off raw youngsters like Nate Ament and Bogoljub Markovic, who need time to develop.
With a prominent role and no superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fold, Kuzma could take on one of the biggest roles of his career. The uptick in touches could either help his production or show exactly why teams might need to avoid investing big money into him next summer. It all depends on whether he can seize the opportunity in front of him.
Of course, Kuzma's role could be altered drastically if the Bucks land Peyton Watson, who would slot above him on the power forward depth chart. Yet, until that happens, Kuzma holds the mantle as the team's starting four, and he must make the most of it.
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