Bucks Trade Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, 2028 Pick Swap To Wizards For Kyle Kuzma

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 3:26 pm

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second round draft compensation.

The Bucks drop below the second apron with the trade, while agreeing to swap picks with the Wizards in 2028.

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

Melwing · Post #2 » by **Melwing** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 4:12 pm

Not a big Kuzma fan but, emotions and loyalty aside, this seems like it could be really good trade for the bucks.

TimeisIllmatic · Post #3 » by **TimeisIllmatic** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 4:23 pm

Good trade for the Wizards in terms of getting that 2028 pick swap.

Dame will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Kuzma will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Giannis will opt out after the 2027-28 (if he's still there)

Toine85 · Post #4 » by **Toine85** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 4:35 pm

TimeisIllmatic wrote:Good trade for the Wizards in terms of getting that 2028 pick swap.

Dame will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Kuzma will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Giannis will opt out after the 2027-28 (if he's still there)

Umm...then it makes no sense because the pick will depend on what happened during the 2027-2028 season when those players were on the team. If anything, you want the 2029 pick swap.

TimeisIllmatic · Post #5 » by **TimeisIllmatic** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 4:38 pm

Toine85 wrote:
TimeisIllmatic wrote:Good trade for the Wizards in terms of getting that 2028 pick swap.

Dame will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Kuzma will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Giannis will opt out after the 2027-28 (if he's still there)

Umm...then it makes no sense because the pick will depend on what happened during the 2027-2028 season when those players were on the team. If anything, you want the 2029 pick swap.

A lot can happen but assuming Giannis wants out before the 2027-28 season, you think a team with only just Dame will be good? I think the pick can be pretty good but again, we don't know.

Hans1984 · Post #6 » by **Hans1984** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 5:18 pm

Bad deal for the Bucks.

the_process · Post #7 » by **the_process** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 5:58 pm

The Wiz just need to cash out on Brogdon and Big Val now in the next 24 hours.

donemilio21 · Post #8 » by **donemilio21** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 6:01 pm

Middleton playing 40 games > Kuzma playing 70 games.

Even with the injuries, Middleton is the better player. Watch Wizards flip him for a 1st round pick or 2 in the summer.

Cassius · Post #9 » by **Cassius** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 6:17 pm

TimeisIllmatic wrote:
Toine85 wrote:
TimeisIllmatic wrote:Good trade for the Wizards in terms of getting that 2028 pick swap.

Dame will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Kuzma will be a free agent after the 2027-28 season
Giannis will opt out after the 2027-28 (if he's still there)

Umm...then it makes no sense because the pick will depend on what happened during the 2027-2028 season when those players were on the team. If anything, you want the 2029 pick swap.

A lot can happen but assuming Giannis wants out before the 2027-28 season, you think a team with only just Dame will be good? I think the pick can be pretty good but again, we don't know.

Giannis will probably ask out the moment Kuzma shows up in one of his Zoolander fits. The 2028 swap is great timing, because if Giannis does decide to leave, it would probably be after 25-26 so he theoretically has some leverage going into his walk year.

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Indomitable · Post #10 » by **Indomitable** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 6:47 pm

donemilio21 wrote:Middleton playing 40 games > Kuzma playing 70 games.

Even with the injuries, Middleton is the better player. Watch Wizards flip him for a 1st round pick or 2 in the summer.

Who is going to give you a first for a injury prone 33 year old?

Pickled Prunes · Post #11 » by **Pickled Prunes** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 7:36 pm

donemilio21 wrote:Middleton playing 40 games > Kuzma playing 70 games.

Even with the injuries, Middleton is the better player. Watch Wizards flip him for a 1st round pick or 2 in the summer.

Middleton is unquestionably a more talented player, but he can't move. You are comparing a player that has had nothing to play for this season, to a player pouring everything into their rehab and with everything to play for. Middleton's career is on the line and he has been working his but off to get right... but he just isn't right.

I don't actually like the move for MIL, but I see what they are trying to do. They are assuming that Kuzma's struggles have to do with him being near the top of opponent whiteboards. He won't get much attention on the whiteboards with Giannis and Dame in the lineup. We'll see. Situation matters!

puja21 · Post #12 » by **puja21** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 8:18 pm

Pickled Prunes wrote:Middleton is unquestionably a more talented player, but he can't move

This

Middleton's ankles are shot.

We're coming up on 2+ years of this -- the evidence is mounting that he is unfortunately just cooked as a reliable starter, let alone #2/#3 scorer

tigerae · Post #13 » by **tigerae** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 11:11 pm

Pickled Prunes wrote:
donemilio21 wrote:Middleton playing 40 games > Kuzma playing 70 games.

Even with the injuries, Middleton is the better player. Watch Wizards flip him for a 1st round pick or 2 in the summer.

Middleton is unquestionably a more talented player, but he can't move. You are comparing a player that has had nothing to play for this season, to a player pouring everything into their rehab and with everything to play for. Middleton's career is on the line and he has been working his but off to get right... but he just isn't right.

I don't actually like the move for MIL, but I see what they are trying to do. They are assuming that Kuzma's struggles have to do with him being near the top of opponent whiteboards. He won't get much attention on the whiteboards with Giannis and Dame in the lineup. We'll see. Situation matters!

Hit it right on the money. Middleton just doesn't seem like himself. Either his injury isn't fully healed or it has caused too much damage for him to be able to play at a high level anymore. This seems similar to Klay and the Warriors. Kuzma is definitely not the same talent but he also got better since being with the Lakers as a fairly solid role player with them and helped them win a championship. I can see him getting 15sh ppg with the Bucks and can also help defensively because of his length. His shooting should also improve more for the exact reason said, because he is no longer the #1 or #2 option with all the attention going to Giannis and Dame.

Post #14 » by **Luv those Knicks** » Wed Feb 5, 2025 11:42 pm

What's the over/under on the Wiz having a better pick than the Bucks in 2028? 30%? 25%? Maybe if they get Flagg and start to turn things around, but my guess is this pick doesn't swap.

Doesn't mean it's a bad gamble, as it could swap, but my guess is that it doesn't.