Don’t start planning any parades. Not yet at least.
The Milwaukee Bucks had to make the tough but right decision of trading away one of the greatest players in franchise history. There has been a clear pattern of decline from the moment Khris Middleton helped deliver a title in 2021. The combination of health issues and his advanced age has caused him to miss 127 games, including the playoffs, since the 2021-22 season. He was not reliable and not the same player he once was.
This team needs more stability, depth and youthfulness. Kyle Kuzma is the answer to all of that. Let’s not confuse the purpose of this trade. This move doesn’t move the needle drastically on their title odds. This was a strategic move to build a championship roster that could contend in the near future. He is going to be a piece that will be vital to their success.
Kuzma brings championship experience to the Bucks
What should be encouraging to all Bucks fans is that Kuzma has proven that he could contribute to a championship-winning team. In the 2019-20 season, he was the Lakers third leading scorer in the regular season. He averaged 12.8 points per game. In the playoffs, he was their fourth-leading scorer. He averaged 10 points per game.
The numbers say that he was an important piece to their offense. He helped spread the floor with his 3-point shooting. With all the attention LeBron James and Anthony Davis would receive, he would create offense for himself in one-on-one opportunities.
The Milwaukee Bucks desperately need a player like that in their starting lineup. Having two players in their starting five that average in single digits is not a recipe for success in today’s league. It makes their offense too predictable. Now, teams will have to respect Kuzma’s shot-making ability, which will open the floor for everyone else.
Kyle Kuzma’s career trajectory has shown that he excels in this type of situation. The Washington Wizards learned the hard way that he’s not good enough to lead a team while being the primary scoring option. They have won a total of 22 games since the start of the 2023-24 season. It’s safe to say that some people misjudged his potential.
The good news is that he is not going to be asked to carry the offense in Milwaukee. His purpose is to serve a complimentary role for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. He had tremendous success in the two years that he played that role with LeBron and Anthony Davis. He has a ring to prove that he can do the same here.
What’s next for the Milwaukee Bucks
The next step is to see what the core of Giannis, Lillard, Lopez, and Kuzma can accomplish. Depending on how quickly they can acclimate him to the system, they can make a run to catch the New York Knicks for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Once they reach the playoffs, the greatness of their star duo always gives them a chance to beat any team in a seven-game series. From a very optimistic perspective, the Milwaukee Bucks can make a deep playoff run this season.
From a more realistic point of view, he is the piece before the missing piece arrives. This offseason, there is going to be a lot of pressure on the front office to bring in a third star. If they are able to entice one of the major free agents to join the Milwaukee Bucks, their dynamic will look much different than it did a week ago. The NBA world is going raving that this team has depth. Kyle Kuzma would be a big reason why this statement will be made.
The most encouraging sign from this trade is that Giannis has approved of moving his championship running mate. It’s never easy to move on from a player who has had such a long tenure with the team. But he understands it was necessary in order to move closer to winning another title. Kyle Kuzma has proven he could be the piece that will get them there.