Bucks fans have known the truth for a while now but have been scared to admit it: Kyle Kuzma is Milwaukee's $90 million mistake, and they're more than likely stuck with him for at least another year if current trends keep up. The harsh reality is that moving him now would cost the Bucks their precious 2031 first-round pick, which is the very asset they need to keep for future flexibility.
Kuzma's underwhelming performance since joining Milwaukee has created a salary cap nightmare that has hindered the front office all offseason long.
Kyle Kuzma is staying (unless the Bucks want to sacrifice their future)
The Bucks are slowly learning what the Washington Wizards already knew about Kyle Kuzma: for all his hype and accolades, he's simply not an easy piece to offload.
For a player the Bucks had to let go of their franchise icon for, Kyle Kuzma's bloated contract and declining production make him virtually untradeable without significant draft compensation attached. That's just the truth of the matter right now: teams aren't lining up to absorb $20 million annually for a player shooting career-low percentages while providing minimal defensive impact.
Anyone who paid attention post-trade deadline knows how inconsistent Kuzma has been for the Bucks. His shot selection remains questionable, and his defense, while competent thanks to his size, has not done nearly enough to offset his lack of production.
Yet his contract, which sees him earning at least $20 million annually, runs through 2026, meaning the Bucks are paying star-level money for bench-level production that hasn't resulted in winning basketball throughout his time in Milwaukee thus far.
Trading Kuzma this season would require Milwaukee to sweeten the deal with their 2031 first-rounder, their only valuable trade asset left. That pick represents all that's left of the Bucks' future, potentially their lifeline when the Giannis Antetokounmpo era ends.
So make no mistake: burning the last pick left to dump Kuzma's salary would be organizational malpractice for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The cruel mathematics of NBA roster construction trap Milwaukee in limbo. They can't afford to keep Kuzma's underperforming contract, but they can't afford to trade it either. Every game he struggles on the court represents both wasted salary cap space and a sinking asset that becomes harder to move.
With the season opener drawing closer, the Milwaukee Bucks should hope that Kuzma somehow rediscovers his form this season. That's not because they believe in his talent, but because they need him to rebuild enough trade value to move without sacrificing their future.
It's an expensive waiting game a contending team can't afford to play, but Kuzma's contract demands patience in the middle of Giannis Antetokounmpo's championship window.