The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Khris Middleton, an NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. This deal also includes additional players A.J. Johnson transferring from the Bucks to the Wizards while Patrick Baldwin moves from the Wizards to Milwaukee. Furthermore, the trade encompasses a future pick swap along with some second-round draft considerations. This information was confirmed by a source familiar with the agreement who wished to remain anonymous as the transaction is still pending approval from the league. The details were initially reported by ESPN, and this trade comes just ahead of the trade deadline set for Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Khris Middleton, now 33, is leaving the Bucks after dedicating nearly all of his career, except for one season, to the team. He has faced challenges with injuries and has played only 23 games this season, with 16 of those as a bench player. Notably, he recorded a career-high shooting percentage of 51% in these limited appearances. Middleton was instrumental in leading the Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021 and earned a gold medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics that same year. His foundational role in the team has consistently been highlighted by Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remarked on the significant impact Middleton has when he is on the court, emphasizing his skill set and basketball intelligence.
Kyle Kuzma will now embark on his third NBA team journey after spending four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and several years with the Wizards. The 29-year-old forward has maintained a career average of 17.2 points per game, with 15.2 points per game in the current season. This acquisition offers the Bucks increased financial flexibility by keeping them under the second apron, suggesting they may explore additional trades before the deadline. Previously, being over that threshold has restricted Milwaukee’s options in enhancing their aging roster. The Bucks currently stand in fifth position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 26-22, following consecutive first-round playoff exits over the past two seasons.
Middleton’s legacy in Milwaukee is significant; he has the potential of having his jersey number 22 honored within the Fiserv Forum. He holds the franchise record for the most three-pointers made, with 1,382, and ranks third in total points scored with 12,586. Additionally, Middleton is second in franchise history in both games played and minutes logged, and he is third in assists.
During the 2021 NBA Finals, Middleton was pivotal in the Bucks’ victory against the Phoenix Suns, averaging 24 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over the series. Throughout his career in the playoffs with Milwaukee, he averaged 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 80 games. He was named an All-Star in 2019, 2020, and 2022, though injuries have hindered his ability to play consistently in recent seasons.
On the other hand, Kuzma has faced his own challenges this season, marking career lows with a shooting percentage of 42%, 3-point shooting at 28.1%, and 60.2% from the free-throw line. However, he did manage to score 31 and 22 points respectively in his last two games. A.J. Johnson, drafted 23rd overall in 2024, averaged 2.9 points in seven appearances with the Bucks. Meanwhile, Patrick Baldwin, who has ties to Milwaukee, was the 28th overall pick in the 2022 draft, contributing 2.1 points in 22 games this season while averaging 4.6 minutes on the court.
