In a move that general manager Jon Horst described as the "hardest thing transactionally that I’ve ever done," the Milwaukee Bucks moved Khris Middleton at the NBA Trade Deadline.
Moving Middleton alone wasn't shocking, as his name was floating around in rumors for weeks prior to the deal, but the return centering around Kyle Kuzma was puzzling at first. While Kuzma has been a recognizable player for several years now, he wasn't in the same tier as other star players the Bucks had been linked to, leaving some disappointed.
Even before he set foot in Milwaukee, it was crystal clear that the Milwaukee Bucks were not bringing in a Middleton-like player when they added Kuzma. That notion has only been solidified further eight games into his tenure with the Bucks. It remains to be seen if the drastic changes between Middleton and Kuzma can get the Bucks over the hump, but the potential is there.
That said, let's analyze the clear differences between what these two and how it impacts the bigger picture with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The positives of the Kuzma-Middleton swap
Right off the bat, the Milwaukee Bucks got younger by swapping out a 33-year-old for a 29-year-old. They also got more athletic, something they have lacked mightily this season. Whether it was due to injuries or age or a combination of both, Middleton simply lacked the athletic ability to move as well as he did earlier in his career, and it caused problems for the Bucks.
Where Middleton struggled to attack on offense and mostly relied on jumpers, Kuzma has been the opposite. As he gets adjusted to playing in a new system, Kuzma has often relied on himself to score points, attacking the hoop with authority by slithering his way by defenders for a dunk or tough layup finish. This has given the Bucks another needed threat in transition, as Kuzma can push the ball.
Defensively, it hasn't been too close. In his eight games, Kuzma has held opponents to 38.9 percent shooting from the field, utilizing his length and athletic ability to hound whoever he's guarding. While he was once a quality defender, this aspect of Middleton's game declined rapidly over the past few years, and it was a clear weakness early this season.
The negatives of the Kuzma-Middleton swap
Efficiency on offense has always been one of Khris Middleton's strengths. Even this season, with his overall production down, he was still efficient, shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from 3-point land. His ability to put points on the board from anywhere on the court at a reliable level was welcoming, and it's something Kyle Kuzma hasn't shown an ability to do just yet.
In his eight contests with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kuzma is shooting 41.2 percent from the field and a mere 29.3 percent from downtown. Obviously, the sample size is incredibly small, but there are some of the worst numbers of his career. As mentioned, a lot of his points come from attacking the hoop, as he's shown that he can't quite be a reliable floor spacer, which is somewhat problematic.
Long term outlook of the Kuzma-Middleton swap
While the offensive efficiency may be a lingering issue, the hope is that Kuzma can find his footing in time as he gets settled in his new environment. He might not get up to Middleton's level of efficiency, but if he can bump these numbers up just a few ticks, Kuzma's production could be passable as he serves as a complementary piece to both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
It was apparent that the Milwaukee Bucks needed to get more versatile, athletic, younger and better on the defensive end, and they did all of that with this move. Of course, Middleton's injury history was also a big looming factor as he slowly worked his way back from recent dual ankle surgeries, and the Bucks added a player who has played 64 or more games in all but one year of his NBA career.
Right now, the sample size is too small to deliver a final verdict. No one will ever know how the rest of the season would have played out with Khris Middleton in town. Instead, the Bucks opted to shake up the formula by bringing in a player who checks off plenty of other boxes. Only time will tell how things play out for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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