The Milwaukee Bucks have confirmed a trade that will send NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards, marking a significant shift for the franchise. In return, the Bucks will receive Kyle Kuzma, according to a source close to the situation who chose to remain anonymous as the transaction awaits league approval.
The deal also involves A.J. Johnson moving from the Bucks to the Wizards, while Patrick Baldwin will head in the opposite direction, joining Milwaukee. Additionally, the trade includes a future pick swap along with a package of second-round draft picks. This trade development was first reported by ESPN and comes just ahead of the upcoming 3 p.m. Eastern trade deadline on Thursday.
Khris Middleton, aged 33, has faced his share of injury setbacks, marking the end of his lengthy tenure with the Bucks where he has spent nearly all of his 13 NBA seasons. The three-time All-Star has participated in only 23 games this season, with 16 of those as a bench player. Despite these challenges, Middleton has been effective, boasting a career-high shooting percentage of 51% in his appearances.
Middleton played a crucial role in helping the Bucks clinch the NBA championship in 2021 and was a key player in securing a gold medal for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics that same year. Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has frequently praised Middleton, emphasizing his importance to the team’s success. “It’s definitely a plus having Khris back,” Antetokounmpo shared earlier this season as Middleton returned from ankle injuries. “He takes us to the next level with his IQ, decision-making, shot ability, defense.”
For Kuzma, this trade will mark his third team in the league, having previously spent four years with the Los Angeles Lakers and parts of four seasons with the Wizards. The 29-year-old forward has a career average of 17.2 points per game, including 15.2 points per game this current season.
This trade also provides the Bucks with some much-needed financial maneuverability, allowing them to operate below the second apron. This status may open up additional trade opportunities as they look to enhance their roster before the deadline. Milwaukee has been limited in their moves due to their high payroll and finds themselves sitting at fifth position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 26-22, following early playoff exits in the last two seasons.
Khris Middleton leaves the Bucks with an impressive legacy, potentially leading to his No. 22 jersey being retired at Fiserv Forum. He holds the franchise record for career three-pointers with 1,382 and ranks third in all-time scoring with 12,586 points, behind giants like Antetokounmpo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Middleton also ranks second in both games played (735) and minutes logged (23,039), trailing only Antetokounmpo, and is third in assists with a total of 2,990.
During the 2021 NBA Finals, Middleton averaged 24 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, contributing significantly to the Bucks’ victory over the Phoenix Suns. Across 80 playoff games with the franchise, he holds averages of 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Middleton was selected for the All-Star Game in 2019, 2020, and 2022 but has had his recent seasons marred by injury woes.
This season, Middleton was sidelined during the Bucks’ 2022 postseason fight against Boston and has played only 33 games during the 2022-23 season, participating in 55 games for 2023-24. His start to the upcoming season was delayed due to offseason surgery on both ankles, and he struggled to make an immediate impact upon his return.
Kuzma is having his struggles this season as well, currently shooting a career-worst 42% from the field, 28.1% from beyond the arc, and 60.2% from the free-throw line. However, he did manage to post impressive performances with 31 and 22 points in his last two outings. The Bucks drafted Johnson as the 23rd overall pick of the recent draft; he has averaged 2.9 points in seven games thus far. Meanwhile, Baldwin, who hails from the Milwaukee area and played his college basketball locally, was selected 28th overall in the 2022 draft and has recorded averages of 2.1 points and 4.6 minutes across 22 games this season.
