Following an early playoff flameout, the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to trade for Kyle Kuzma looks bad. However, unlike moves from the past few seasons, perhaps the main factor in doing this deal was not about the particular player; this deal goes beyond that, as the trade for Kuzma also opened up a good bit of flexibility this offseason. Depending on how they use it, the outlook on the trade could change.
Following the trade for Kuzma, not only did the Milwaukee Bucks escape the second apron, giving them perks like being able to aggregate salaries in trades, but they also have a trade exception and access to more spending money than they've had in quite a while. None of that was there before the trade, so if the Milwaukee Bucks use it to beef up the roster, the trade will certainly look better.
Bucks' Jon Horst must right the wrongs of his Kuzma trade
General manager Jon Horst, fresh off a contract extension, will have his hands full this offseason in an effort to keep this team in contention. He must address which free agents to bring back, how the team can fill their question marks at center and which players they may be able to swing a trade for. With the flexibility he will have, this could be one of his most interesting offseasons yet.
If Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks use this flexibility and patch some legitimate holes, such as how a lack of youth and athleticism plagued this team last season, this trade will look all the better. However, if the general manager does not learn from past mistakes and falls into similar traps, the Bucks could be in for another frustrating season after wasting their newfound flexibility.
Speaking of Kyle Kuzma, it will be interesting to see if this new flexibility has any impact on him after he fell short of expectations in the playoffs. He's set to take home $22 million next season, a number that could certainly be useful if the Milwaukee Bucks make a trade. If they use that contract to bring aboard a legitimate difference-maker, the original trade for Kuzma could definitely look better.
The next few months could be the most important of Jon Horst's career, especially as chatter about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise makes the rounds. The Kyle Kuzma trade could be what makes or breaks Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise.
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