The Bucks are moving on from an important part of their championship run in hope of improving their chances of contending for another title.
Milwaukee is sending Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and a second-round pick, ESPN reported Wednesday, one day before the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
This transaction will move the Bucks below the second tax apron, and Kuzma will reduce the trade bonus in his contract to help the Bucks’ cap situation, according to ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks.
This deal essentially boils down to a Middleton for Kuzma swap, with the Bucks moving on from the 13th-year wing who helped them win the NBA title in 2021 but has battled injuries since the triumph.
Middleton, who turns 34 this year, has been limited to just 23 games this year after undergoing surgeries on both of his ankles.
He appeared in just 55 games last season and 33 during the 2022-23 season.
Middleton also has not been as productive as in years past, averaging 12.6 points, his lowest mark since his first season with the Bucks in 2013-14.
Milwaukee seemingly is hoping Kuzma can provide better production and will be more available, and perhaps joining a contender will galvanize him.
Kuzma, who turns 30 this year, is averaging 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
He is under contract for two more seasons for $21.5 million and $19.4 million, respectively, while Middleton has a $34 million player option for next season.
The other players in this trade are ex-first-round picks who have failed to leave their marks on their now-former teams.
The Bucks are already giving up on Johnson after selecting him with the 23rd pick in last year’s draft, while acquiring the 28th pick in the 2022 draft in Baldwin Jr.
Johnson is averaging 2.9 points per game across seven contests and Baldwin Jr. is notching 2.1 points spanning 22 games.
The Bucks (26-22) entered Wednesday with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference, while the Wizards’ 8-41 is the worst mark in the league.
