When the Milwaukee Bucks acquired forward Kyle Kuzma in a trade with the Washington Wizards for franchise legend Khris Middleton in February 2025, the consensus around the league, as well as among fans, was that the Wizards had essentially fleeced the Bucks. The Bucks need to move on from him and move him in an attempt to improve the roster.
Kuzma's performance after the trade was extremely underwhelming at best, particularly in the first round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. He is currently on a four-year, $90 million contract, which extends until the summer of 2027. Trading him could do a lot for this roster.
Key considerations for the Bucks
If the Milwaukee Bucks want to make a move, put the rest of the league on notice, and improve their team, they would have to trade Kuzma for a player who better fits alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Let's look at some hypothetical moves the Bucks can make to move Kuzma and significantly upgrade their roster.
Kuzma's salary (approximately $22.4 million for 2025-26) will be a key component for any trade to work under the NBA salary cap rules. The Bucks have limited tradable first-round picks due to previous "win now" moves. They do have some young players, such as Andre Jackson Jr., Tyler Smith, and AJ Green, but their trade capital is not overly extensive.
The primary goal would be to find a player who complements Giannis' overall game, ideally providing shooting, defense, or secondary playmaking.
Scenarios to "put the NBA on notice"
Scenario 1: Bucks receive a strong 3-and-D wing or versatile forward who can defend multiple positions and shoot consistently. This would consolidate for a high-impact wing/forward, such as the following players:
Jonathan Kuminga: The Bucks have been linked to Jonathan Kuminga, a restricted free agent. He's not the best shooter, but he has the athleticism and motor to be a nice pickup at small forward.
Andrew Wiggins: An experienced NBA Champion, Wiggins would give the Milwaukee Bucks a boost on both sides of the basketball court. Swapping him out for Kuzma could help the Bucks form a lethal starting five.
RJ Barrett: At 25, Barrett is still young and coming off a year where he averaged 21.2 points per game. With Khris Middleton gone, the Bucks could use another strong wing scorer.
Scenario 2: Adding depth and specific skill sets
Ayo Dosunmu: A versatile combo guard, Dosunmu would fit right in with the Milwaukee Bucks and their youth movement if the Chicago Bulls are willing to move him. Another solid defender and shooter can always help.
Royce O'Neale: The Bucks could use a small forward, and Royce O'Neale fits the mold. Though he is undersized for his position, he can still play defense and shoot the long ball.
Challenges for the Bucks
As mentioned, the Milwaukee Bucks have limited draft capital, as they have traded away many of their future first-round picks. This significantly hinders their ability to acquire a true star player in exchange for Kuzma.
Kuzma's contact value is also a challenge. While his salary decreases over time, his recent performance in Milwaukee might make other teams hesitant to take on the remainder of his deal without significant draft incentives for them.
Lastly and most importantly, the long-term outlook of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks will heavily influence any major trade decisions. If there are any concerns at all about his long-term commitment, the team might be more reluctant to mortgage their future.
Ultimately, any trade involving Kyle Kuzma from the Milwaukee Bucks would be an attempt to rectify the previous trade involving him, as well as improve the team's championship aspirations around Giannis Antetokounmpo. The specific package would depend on which teams are looking to take on Kuzma's contract, as well as what assets the Milwaukee Bucks are willing to part with.