Listening to Matt Modderno’s excellent Bleav in Wizards podcast, which is something you should be doing, I learned that Frank Urbina, writing for Hoopshype had published a list of the top power forwards for the 2024-25 season, and that they had Kyle Kuzma ranked 11th.

One of the fun things about basketball is that people can look at the same players and games and form different opinions. This is one of those cases. Modderno and his cohost (and former Wizards player) Jahadi White thought Hoopshype had Kuzma more or less properly ranked, though perhaps a little low.

My kneejerk: Kuzma is rated too high.

My second kneejerk: I’m not sure the relevance of a “power forward” in today’s game. But that’s a rant for another day. Although, Urbina kinda agrees with me based on some of the guys he included. End of digression.

Well…I have questions. Like, how do Keegan Murray and Jerami Grant end up on a list of PFs but Kevin Durant and Paul George don’t? How are Maxi Kleber, GG Jackson and Patrick Williams on this list at all?

This is why I’ve been arguing the past few seasons that “traditional” position designations are irrelevant. I think there are four positions: guards, wings, forwards, centers. Even then, guys can sometimes be classified differently. Kuzma, to me is a forward (a traditional PF or SF, but not a guard or center except in rare instances). Durant, Giannis, Lebron, Kawhi, George, Avdija also fit that description.

Daniel Gafford is a center — he surely can’t play guard or on the wing, and he’s not a forward except in the rarest of instances. Bradley Beal is a guard. So is Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, and Evan Fournier. Corey Kispert is a wing — a traditional SG or SF type who’s not a primary ball handler and doesn’t have the size or athletic tools to match up against bigger forwards or centers.

Okay, now the digression is over.

At quick glance, there’s no one in the Hoopsyhype top 10 I’d shift down for Kuzma.

Of the players ranked behind him, I’d take three over him (Keegan Murray, Draymond Green, and Cameron Johnson), and I’d take someone they didn’t list at all (Deni Avdija). There are a few more I’d rate ahead of Kuzma as well.

The challenge with properly assessing Kuzma is that the per game numbers are superficially gaudy because he plays a lot of minutes and guzzles possessions. When watching, he seems like The Prototype of the modern NBA player — size, fluidity, apparent skills. When things are going well, he looks borderline elite.

If you’ve been watching Kuzma throughout his career (as I have), his game seems improved, as well. He’s more skillful and knowledgeable and savvy entering his age 29 season than he was at age 22 or 23.

But throughout his career, there’s been an inability on his part to translate the prototypical appearance and apparent skills into the kind of production that wins games in the NBA. This has been true throughout his career — even when playing with elite performers like Lebron James and Anthony Davis.

I won’t rehash the efficiency numbers I’ve written about a few times previously except to say his combination of usage and inefficiency has made him among the more costly offensive players in the league the past few seasons. And offense has been his relative strength since coming to the Wizards.

I’m receptive to the argument that Kuzma might be more efficient and effective in a different context with another team, even though that hasn’t been the case as he’s changed teams and contexts so far in his career. In fact, I’m quite hopeful some team will pay the Wizards a couple first round picks to run the experiment.

For those fretting about how the Wizards will “make up” for Kuzma’s offense, keep in mind that the team has been no better (or worse) offensively whether Kuzma has been on or off the floor since he came to town. They’ll be about as good on offense when he’s gone as they would be if he stayed.

In other words, they can lose 60-68 games next season with or without Kuzma. He’s not moving the needle towards more wins, and while he may be a veteran leader in terms of the process of preparing to succeed in the NBA, his on-the-floor example isn’t showing anyone the “right way” to play.

All this is the long way of saying that I don’t think Kuzma is the 11th best forward for the upcoming season. Not close, really. Here’s my list of top forwards for the 2024-25 season based on watching way too many games, statistical analysis, and then asking the question: Which forward would I take over all other available forwards for the upcoming season?

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
3. Lebron James, Los Angeles Lakers
4. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
5. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
6. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
7. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
8. Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers
9. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
10. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
11. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
13. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
14. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
15. Julius Randle, New York Knicks
16. Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
17. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
18. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
19. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
20. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
21. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
22. Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
23. Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets
24. Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons
25. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
26. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
27. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
28. Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers
29. John Collins, Utah Jazz
30. Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers

Honorable Mentions:

• Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies
• Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs
• Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
• Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
• Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets

Opinions vary, of course. To my eye, I don’t see a reasonable way to push Kuzma past Avdija at 21. I could envision reasonable arguments for selecting Collins, Hachimura or one or two of the Honorable Mentions ahead of Kuzma.

What do you think?