The Milwaukee Bucks have traded a franchise legend for a youthful and cheaper ahead as they gear as much as make a run within the 2025 NBA Playoffs round Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Khris Middleton has been traded to the Washington Wizards in a deal that can return Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks. Right here’s the total particulars on the commerce, by way of ESPN insider Shams Charania:
Bucks get: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and future second-round draft decide
Wizards get: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, and a 2028 first-round decide swap
Middleton was a key piece in Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA championship workforce. He’s battled accidents within the years since, and had surgical procedure on each of his ankles this previous summer season. Middleton has solely performed 23 video games this season with a career-low in minutes per recreation, however he’s nonetheless been efficient in brief spurts.
The Bucks save some huge cash on this deal. Milwaukee drops from a second-apron workforce to a first-apron workforce with the commerce. Let’s grade this deal from either side.
Bucks grade for Kyle Kuzma, Khris Middleton commerce
The Bucks have dug themselves out of their horrible begin, however they’re nonetheless far behind the Jap Convention-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics within the standings. Milwaukee is 26-22 total sitting within the No. 5 seed within the East on the time of this commerce.
It’s heartbreaking to commerce a participant like Middleton. The Bucks don’t win their 2021 championship with out him. This commerce provides Milwaukee a youthful participant and far more monetary flexibility. Antetokounmpo reportedly signed on off on the commerce.
By dropping from the second apron to the primary apron, the Bucks can now combination salaries in trades. This might imply one other transfer is coming earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline.
Kuzma is 29 years outdated, and he’s having one of many worst seasons of his profession for a horrible Wizards workforce. He’s averaging 15.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds, and a couple of.5 assists per recreation, however his scoring effectivity is among the many worst within the league for high-volume shooters. Kuzma is just making 28.1 % of his three-pointers on 5 makes an attempt per recreation, and he’s posting an terrible true taking pictures proportion (a metric that captures total scoring effectivity) of 48.8 %, practically 10 factors under league-average.
Kuzma has been under league-average in scoring effectivity each season of his profession, however that is his worst season as a scorer by far. Kuzma shot 33.6 % from three over his first three seasons with the Wizards earlier than his shot deserted him this yr.
Kuzma has stable measurement at 6’9, 220 kilos and may play both ahead spot. He was part of a championship workforce on the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers. His defensive affect has been poor in Washington, however he stepped up his protection in significant video games for the Lakers. Kuzma is having a comically dangerous season statistically to date, however he’s nonetheless a proficient participant who might probably flip it round exterior of Washington’s dumpster hearth.
Johnson is a pleasant prospect for the Wizards to get. Scouts had been shocked that Milwaukee used a first-round decide on him, however he’s proven some flashes of expertise in restricted minutes. Giving up a first-round decide swap in 2028 is terrifying if Giannis ever forces his means out of city, however meaningless if he stays in Milwaukee.
The monetary financial savings are a significant a part of the explanation the Bucks made this commerce. Dropping out of the second-apron provides them so many extra team-building choices. Milwaukee has one of many highest gamers within the NBA in Antetokounmpo, however the workforce must make extra strikes to grow to be an actual contender. This can be a step in direction of that, even when it’s a painful one.
It’s laborious to grade this deal till we all know what the Bucks do subsequent. Is a Jimmy Butler commerce coming? Kuzma can’t be this dangerous all season, proper? Middleton’s well being was such a scary issue that Milwaukee needed to do one thing to get off his deal, however this isn’t precisely the best return.
Bucks grade: C+
Wizards grade for Kyle Kuzma, Khris Middleton commerce
The Wizards are a pathetic excuse for an NBA workforce. Washington is 8-41 total and simply completed one of many worst months in NBA historical past in January.
The Wizards are nonetheless at first of their rebuild, and it’s going to be a pair extra years no less than till they area a aggressive workforce. Middleton doesn’t do something for this workforce within the short-term. He is perhaps traded earlier than he ever performs a recreation for the Wizards. If he’s not re-routed by Thursday’s deadline, anticipate him to be moved in the summertime.
The Wizards are doing this commerce for the longer term property. If Giannis leaves Milwaukee by 2028, that first-round decide swap goes to be extremely worthwhile. Johnson is an honest prospect in addition to a giant guard with shot-creation potential, although he wasn’t one in all my favourite gamers within the 2024 draft.
This commerce quantities to taking part in roulette for Washington. It’s a low-risk transfer within the current that has an opportunity to repay huge sooner or later if Antetokounmpo asks out. Washington hopes to win the draft lottery for Cooper Flagg this yr, however even when they don’t they are going to nonetheless have a top-five decide so as to add a premium younger expertise. Alex Sarr has regarded good as a rookie because the No. 2 total decide in 2024, and the younger nucleus of Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George provides the Wizards some hope for the longer term.
I like this transfer for Washington as a result of there’s no threat in concerned. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Washington can get extra worth for Middleton than Milwaukee did. The veteran might be on the transfer once more earlier than lengthy.
Wizards grade: A
