The Milwaukee Bucks just seriously shook up their core. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Bucks have traded Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and second-round draft compensation.
Middleton had been a part of the Bucks organization for 12 years and was a key piece in their 2021 NBA Championship run. But at this point in their respective careers, Kuzma is more ready to help the Bucks, as Middelton’s injuries have seriously hampered his productivity and ability to stay on the floor. He’s also four years younger than Middleton.
And Kuzma has helped the Bucks more than they ever could have dreamed of, and he hasn’t even played a minute for them yet.
Kyle Kuzma reducing trade bonus allows Bucks to make big-swing trade
According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Kuzma is reducing his trade bonus so the Bucks can stay under the second apron and look to make more moves before the trade deadline.
“To help Milwaukee build out their roster now and in the future, Kyle Kuzma is reducing a portion of the trade bonus in his contract, sources tell ESPN,” Marks wrote in a tweet.
To help Milwaukee build out their roster now and in the future, Kyle Kuzma is reducing a portion of the trade bonus in his contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2025
The reduced trade bonus allows Milwaukee to remain below the second apron.
Kuzma won a championship with the Lakers in 2020.
Prior to this deal, the Bucks were a second-apron team. That meant that they couldn’t aggregate salaries in trades, nor could they take back more money than they were sending out.
Now, they have significantly more financial flexibility to make moves than they did before, and Kuzma is to thank for it.
In fact, he just made their next move fairly easy—combine multiple salaries, probably Pat Connaughton or Bobby Portis combined with other pieces, to nab a solid rotation piece.
Some examples that immediately jump to mind include guards like Collin Sexton and Bruce Brown, and forwards like Cam Johnson and Keldon Johnson. All of those guys are now gettable from a financial standpoint, and without Kuzma’s help, they wouldn’t be.
The new CBA has made it extremely difficult for expensive teams to make significant trades, but the Bucks managed to do just that with the Middleton-for-Kuzma swap.
And now that Kuzma has helped them out by reducing his trade bonus, more moves are likely coming for the Bucks as they look to contend for a title this year.
Helping out the Bucks is undoubtedly a great first impression, and it clearly signals that Milwaukee is not done making moves at this year’s deadline.
Keep an eye on the Bucks.