Shams: MIL/WAS: Kuzma for Middleton

[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.

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.

Pretty much agree. There's very little chance he'll be anything before his rookie deal is up, so it's not a huge deal for Milwaukee.

There's obviously another trade coming for the Bucks. The main thing here was getting under the 2nd apron so they can aggregate. Portis is going somewhere in the next 24 hours.

[ReggiesKnicks]

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).

Washington is already losing its 2nd.

Washington will receive the less favorable of its pick and the Golden State pick, and the less favorable of (i) the more favorable of the two and (ii) the Detroit pick if conveyable or Washington will receive neither (i) nor (ii) if the Detroit pick is not conveyable

I am guessing it is Phoenix 2nd

[UnbelievablyRAW]

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.

You'd think he'd want to show some of his rookies how to do it then. His comments about "playing for me" and taking terrible shots nightly don't give me confidence he'll flip the switch and be a winning player just because.

His numbers have been bad as well. They didn't exactly buy low to get him so I hope this works out but I'd doubt it

[TheNetsFan]

They can window dress this all they want, but I think this was mostly about ducking below the 2nd apron & reducing the tax bill. Milwaukee a team to watch in the off-season or next deadline in terms of deciding the cost doesn't justify the results and blowing it up.

[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).

Washington is already losing its 2nd.

Washington will receive the less favorable of its pick and the Golden State pick, and the less favorable of (i) the more favorable of the two and (ii) the Detroit pick if conveyable or Washington will receive neither (i) nor (ii) if the Detroit pick is not conveyable

I am guessing it is Phoenix 2nd

Gotcha. Haynes reported it as "best of". I just didn't know which teams were involved.

[Texas Chuck]

Marks reporting Kuzma not taking all of his trade kicker so the Bucks could duck the 2nd apron.

[realEAST]

Will look better for Bucks if they manage to add someone somewhat impactful with 2nds they got and / or sign someone via buyout

[buckboy]

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.

You'd think he'd want to show some of his rookies how to do it then. His comments about "playing for me" and taking terrible shots nightly don't give me confidence he'll flip the switch and be a winning player just because.

His numbers have been bad as well. They didn't exactly buy low to get him so I hope this works out but I'd doubt it

If you're referring to Middleton, they bought low. He's done. Only possible thing there is that he could maybe eek out a decent playoff series or 2 if they flip him (which I'm assuming they will). He definitely can't be counted on. Just too many injuries. Top 3 favorite Buck ever for me.

[Snakebites]

Kuz isn’t reliable enough as a shooter to slot next to Giannis.

I don’t like it.

[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.

You'd think he'd want to show some of his rookies how to do it then. His comments about "playing for me" and taking terrible shots nightly don't give me confidence he'll flip the switch and be a winning player just because.

His numbers have been bad as well. They didn't exactly buy low to get him so I hope this works out but I'd doubt it

This is quite a low buy. A rookie who was a late 1st in a bad draft who has shown literally nothing in the NBA through 4 months, a player who can't stay healthy and costs 50% more and a swap in a year where Milwaukee already owes a swap.

That seems relatively low for a player who has good size for a wing and over the past 3 seasons averaged 20/7/4 on sub-par efficiency.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Marks reporting Kuzma not taking all of his trade kicker so the Bucks could duck the 2nd apron.

Play For Me, Win For Thee

[daoneandonly]

Strong dislike for the Bucks here.

Wizards should try to flip Midds again and take on some additional salary.

Dallas?

DOnt see how the numbers could match. PJ and Naji would be cool to see in Washington though, not just because their swag and play style; but one for their namesake and the other going to high school in the DMV

[jbk1234]

yep Middleton must be held together by bailing wire. Also, Miami just lost a Butler team.

Good deal for the Wizards.

As to Butler, this probably won't be finalized until the deadline.

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

It does matter, as since they're not actually aggregating here, they're not hard capped at the 2nd apron. Which could greatly matter if they make more deals and have to backfill roster spots.

[OutsidetheNBA]

I doubt anyone is trading for Middleton with his $34m player option next year, especially after the Bucks signaled they doubt his health by trading him.

Potential buyout candidate? Doubt Middleton wants to be in Washington so he might take a solid discount in the hopes of signing a buyout level deal and a larger two year deal this summer.

[Malapropism]

What's the swap here? They get to swap with the Bucks after the Blazers already have the option to swap? So they just get the 2nd best pick out of the 3 teams here?

[packer396]

What's the swap here? They get to swap with the Bucks after the Blazers already have the option to swap? So they just get the 2nd best pick out of the 3 teams here?

Yes I believe Wash gets the chance to swap with the worse of MIL/WAS 2028 FRP

[Frichuela]

Kuz isn’t reliable enough as a shooter to slot next to Giannis.

I don’t like it.

He has made the highlights of "BricksCenter" too many times this season, displaying horrendous basketball IQ.

As a Wizards fan, I am ecstatic I don't have to watch him any more...

I hope for the Bucks' sake that he regains some of his mediocre career efficiency, otherwise I imagine he will be riding the pine.

Read on Twitter

[SA37]

Kuz isn’t reliable enough as a shooter to slot next to Giannis.

I don’t like it.

He has made the highlights of "BricksCenter" too many times this season, displaying horrendous basketball IQ.

As a Wizards fan, I am ecstatic I don't have to watch him any more...

I hope for the Bucks' sake that he regains some of his mediocre career efficiency, otherwise I imagine he will be riding the pine.

Read on Twitter

That reel reminds of when people were making the endless reels of Harden getting burned on defense.

I am a bit surprised Milwaukee went this route, although it seems like they managed to get under the 2nd apron via Kuzma taking a reduction on his trade kicker. Does Milwaukee have another move lined up?

[gswhoops]

I doubt anyone is trading for Middleton with his $34m player option next year, especially after the Bucks signaled they doubt his health by trading him.

Potential buyout candidate? Doubt Middleton wants to be in Washington so he might take a solid discount in the hopes of signing a buyout level deal and a larger two year deal this summer.

I imagine they'd rather keep him around for veteran leadership/trade filler at the very least, unless he took an unreasonable discount just to get to play somewhere else.