When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jericho Sims at the deadline, the reactions were…relatively mixed, to put it as kindly as humanly possible.
Kuzma, the former Los Angeles Laker and Washington Wizard, had for most of his career thus far carried the reputation of an inefficient shot-chucker who padded his stats on bad teams. That's not entirely untrue; expectations, for whatever reason, were that he could be something approaching fringe star, and that never really materialized during his time in Washington.
Porter, meanwhile, arrived in town with enough baggage to fill a cargo plane—a long and storied history of off-court controversies, a well-documented propensity for locker room volatility and (mostly extremely valid) questions swirling among analysts about whether or not his score-first slashing could fit into a winning culture that already had an elite non-shooter on the roster.
As a result, most fans' opinions (including those of this writer) were mixed to negative in the immediate aftermath of the trade. For a team already teetering on the edge of contention, these moves felt like a gamble at best and a complete disaster at worst. Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to be surrounded with efficient catch-and-shoot floor-spacers instead of other slashers who would only clog the floor, this writer argued then. We'll be the first to admit we're wrong.
Of course, the consternation surrounding the moves was just as much about who the team was letting go as it was who they were getting in return. Kuzma and Porter hardly seemed like a good enough return for a franchise legend who had just led them through a championship run a few short years ago. Khris Middleton didn't just have the skill; he had the fit.
Nobody had the connection with the Greek Freak that Khash Money did, and that was the kind of connection that only a decade of playing together could build.
But here we are, just weeks later, and the Bucks have won eight of their last nine games since the All-Star break. Say what you want about their strength of schedule as of late, but the reality is that both Kuzma and Porter aren’t just contributing—they’re thriving. What looked like desperate, risky moves at the time might have just saved the Milwaukee Bucks’ season.
Milwaukee's controversial trade deadline moves are making a difference
Let’s start with Kuzma.
Yes, he’s been labeled as a volume scorer who puts up empty stats on losing teams. But in Milwaukee, he’s filled his role despite a lack of efficiency. Since joining the Bucks, Kuzma has averaged 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while converting on a paltry 42.7 percent of his attempts from the field and just 28.1 percent of his treys.
He hasn't had to be an offensive force around the inside-out talents of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
And as a result, the best parts of his championship-winning Lakers tenure are coming back with a vengeance. So far, he's brought a level of versatility and energy that the Bucks desperately needed on the defensive end. This writer knew it then, and it should be said again: he's quietly becoming the versatile, wing-sized defender the Milwaukee Bucks have always needed on that side of the ball.
Whether it’s knocking down threes, attacking the rim or making plays on defense, Kuzma has been a perfect fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Sure, his efficiency is what it is. But his ability to create his own shot and take pressure off Giannis and Lillard has been a game-changer, and his defensive effort has been a pleasant surprise. For a player with a reputation for empty stats, Kuzma is proving he can contribute to winning basketball.
Then there’s Kevin Porter Jr.
When the Bucks acquired him, the questions were less about his talent and more about his character. But so far, Porter has (hopefully) been a model citizen and a dynamic contributor off the bench. That it took just a few games for him to replace Ryan Rollins in the rotation is telling enough on its own.
In just 16 minutes per game, he’s averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 50.7 percent shooting. His ability to score in bunches, playmake for his teammates and provide a spark off the bench has been invaluable. Most notably, his burgeoning chemistry with Jericho Sims on alley-oop plays has added a new dimension to the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense.
But perhaps the most surprising aspect of Porter’s game has been his defense. Known more for his offense than his effort on the other end, Porter has been a disruptive force, using his length and quickness to bother opposing guards. In a league where bench scoring is often the difference between winning and losing, Porter has been exactly what the Milwaukee Bucks needed.
The Bucks looked dead in the water to start the season. Their defense was a mess, their offense was stagnant and the pressure on Giannis and Lillard to carry the load was unsustainable. But since the trade deadline, they’ve looked like a completely different team. Kuzma and Porter have injected energy, versatility and scoring into a roster that desperately needed it, and the results speak for themselves: eight wins in nine games.
Post-All-Star, Milwaukee is second in defensive rating, giving up 107.4 points per 100 possessions. Before the break, they were 11th at 112.4.
Of course, it’s still early. The playoffs are a different beast, and the Bucks will need Kuzma and Porter to maintain their level of play when it matters most. But for now, these maligned deadline moves look like a stroke of genius. What seemed like desperate gambles at the time might have just saved the Milwaukee Bucks’ season.
The Milwaukee Bucks made season-altering moves
The Bucks’ trade deadline activity was met with skepticism for reasons that weren't necessarily about basketball, but Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. are proving the doubters wrong.
Kuzma’s versatility and scoring have been a perfect fit alongside Giannis and Lillard, while Porter’s dynamic playmaking and improved defense have given the Bucks a much-needed spark off the bench. Together, they’ve helped turn the Milwaukee Bucks’ season around, transforming a team that looked lost into a legitimate contender.
Sometimes, the best moves are the ones no one sees coming. The names might not have been the brightest, but when you take the roster as a whole, the trade deadline acquisitions have made this Milwaukee Bucks team greater than the sum of its parts. These unlikely players have not only vindicated Jon Horst for the moves; they might have saved the Bucks' dying season, too.
For the Bucks, Kuzma and Porter might just be the unlikely heroes they needed all along. The trades were controversial at the time, but this team is better for having made it today. We certainly hope the apologies are as loud as the disrespect was.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis going forward.