Shams: MIL/WAS: Kuzma for Middleton

[ReggiesKnicks]

Hate it for Milwaukee

AJ actually looks promising AND they're including a swap. Kuzma has been a tank commander for the last 2 years and no longer looks like a winning player. Baldwin Jr won't even be in the league in 2 years

Just because a player is on a terrible team with zero structure doesn't mean they don't know how to play winning basketball.

[gswhoops]

This is like trading in a 2010 Lexus for a 2015 Kia, there has to be more to come.

Kind of, if the Lexus has a blown transmission and might cost more to repair than its KBB value

[daoneandonly]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

Must have been done in two seperate trades with WSH TPE being used

I just literally changed from Mavericks to Wizards (after 34 years of fandom) for obvious reasons, already off to a good start as I do not enjoy watching Kuz or Poole at all. So down 1. Always liked Midds and AJ could have some promise

[ejftw]

If that swap isn't likely to convey, I like it for the Bucks. If it does, I don't. Just waiting for what year it is to be announced and which second going to the Bucks

[Texas Chuck]

Hate it for Milwaukee

AJ actually looks promising AND they're including a swap. Kuzma has been a tank commander for the last 2 years and no longer looks like a winning player. Baldwin Jr won't even be in the league in 2 years

Just because a player is on a terrible team with zero structure doesn't mean they don't know how to play winning basketball.

True. I think it has to be somewhat concerning just how bad he's been and then of course his recent comments about screw this Im going to play for me now.

But I definitely expect Kuzma to play better with the Bucks if for no other reason than Giannis and Dame will help him get much easier opportunities.

[Scoot McGroot]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

[OutsidetheNBA]

Team like the Bucks just can't afford $32m a year for a player who can't play more than half a game in the regular season. Better to bet on a slightly less skilled player for 2/3s the cost who can give you 40mpg throughout the playoffs.

[daoneandonly]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

You're too smart for me, Scoot. I thought aggregate was trading multiple players out

[TGW]

I hate this for the bucks. They just got markedly worse and paid for the privilege...

Actually they didn't pay. They saved something like $35MM in this transaction by avoiding the 2nd apron.

[OutsidetheNBA]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

Question: Can teams use a portion of the MLE trade exception on multiple players, in the same way they can use a portion of the MLE on multiple players? I get that the Baldwin/Johnson swap works so the Wizards didn't need to use the MLE trade exception, but if the Lakers wanted the Wizards to take both Reddish and Wood, could the Wizards take both of them in using the trade exception? Or can they only use it on one player?

[ReggiesKnicks]

I hate this for the bucks. They just got markedly worse and paid for the privilege...

Actually they didn't pay. They saved something like $35MM in this transaction by avoiding the 2nd apron.

The Bucks also didn't get worse.

[Scoot McGroot]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

Question: Can teams use a portion of the MLE trade exception on multiple players, in the same way they can use a portion of the MLE on multiple players? I get that the Baldwin/Johnson swap works so the Wizards didn't need to use the MLE trade exception, but if the Lakers wanted the Wizards to take both Reddish and Wood, could the Wizards take both of them in using the trade exception? Or can they only use it on one player?

It can be split.

[Scoot McGroot]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

You're too smart for me, Scoot. I thought aggregate was trading multiple players out

No worries. Common confusion. Players can be sent together without being aggregated. Just look at it as "what can each player, on their salary, return?" and work from there.

[buckboy]

I'm not a fan of this deal, but Middleton is absolutely cooked. Just so everyone knows.

[buckboy]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They ended up under the 2nd apron after the trade, which is all that matters.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Love it for the Wiz, get AJ Johnson and rid themselves of the empty stat arrogant Kuz.

But I thought Mil couldnt aggregate?

They're not aggregating here? For Milwaukee, they swap Middleton for Kuzma. This works because Kuzma makes less than Middleton. Then, they also swap Johnson for Baldwin, which also works because Baldwin makes less than Middleton. They didn't need to aggregate, or combine Middleton and Johnson to return a salary larger than either of them could return on their own.

Question: Can teams use a portion of the MLE trade exception on multiple players, in the same way they can use a portion of the MLE on multiple players? I get that the Baldwin/Johnson swap works so the Wizards didn't need to use the MLE trade exception, but if the Lakers wanted the Wizards to take both Reddish and Wood, could the Wizards take both of them in using the trade exception? Or can they only use it on one player?

It can be split but it is technically two transactions.

Let's say you have a the Mid-Level Exception worth 12 Million. You can use it to take on a 5 Million dollar player. There is 7 Million remaining since 12 - 5 = 7. Now you can take another player into that 7 Million so long as they fit into it.

It is the same procedure for a Trade Exception.

[buckboy]

Wasn’t AJ showing some promise of role player status ?

Middleton must be unreliable in terms of expected future availability.

Wrong AJ. AJ Johnson is in the G league and scored 2 points in his last game.

He's a major project, but I sure would've liked to have kept him.

[winforlose]

Bucks think they can get more out of Kuzma and get off of Middleton whose injuries make him more of a liability than an asset. It took resources I don’t love from the Bucks, but o have no objections for either side.

[OutsidetheNBA]

Wasn’t AJ showing some promise of role player status ?

Middleton must be unreliable in terms of expected future availability.

Wrong AJ. AJ Johnson is in the G league and scored 2 points in his last game.

He's a major project, but I sure would've liked to have kept him.

AJ Johnson pick was always confusing because he's a developmental guy for a win-now team with a coach who famously doesn't focus much on development. Probably better for AJ to move him to a different team.

[buckboy]

If that swap isn't likely to convey, I like it for the Bucks. If it does, I don't. Just waiting for what year it is to be announced and which second going to the Bucks

2028 swap (already swapped with Portland, so no value to the Bucks (most likely)). 2nd is this year, best of (not sure, but I'm assuming it'll be Washington's).