As the NBA Trade Deadline looms, rumors are swirling around Milwaukee once again, this time suggesting the Bucks could be interested in a Zach LaVine-for-Khris Middleton swap. The Athletic (subscription required) has floated around the idea of the Bucks being a LaVine suitor if they want to take a swing, given they are rumored to be hunting big names, though whether or not the pieces needed for such a deal to materialize are there remains to be seen.
On paper, it sounds intriguing—swapping an aging, injury-prone veteran for a younger, explosive scorer who’s been lighting it up this season. However, for a team looking to win now, this move could create more problems than it solves.
Zach LaVine's injury history isn't that much better than Khris Middleton's
There’s a reason Zach LaVine’s name came up in trade talks for months without any takers. His max contract, which has nearly $130 million guaranteed over the next three seasons, scared off potential suitors. Add in his history of knee issues—including a pair of ACL tears—and you’ve got a high-risk player on your hands.
While LaVine has looked healthy this season, averaging 24 points on 51.3 percent shooting, those numbers don’t erase the long-term durability concerns. The Bucks have already dealt with health woes in the past few seasons, from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s knee troubles to Khris Middleton’s lingering ailments. Trading for another player with significant injury baggage feels like asking for history to repeat itself.
Middleton, for all his recent struggles, has shown he can perform when it matters most. Swapping him for LaVine might boost Milwaukee’s regular-season offense, but the postseason is a different beast, where availability often trumps raw talent.
The Bucks spent the early part of this season ironing out the wrinkles in the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard partnership, and they’ve finally started to click. Giannis and Lillard's two-man lineup boasts an offensive rating of 121.6 in January, ranking among the NBA's best.
Injecting LaVine into the equation would disrupt that progress, forcing Milwaukee to recalibrate their chemistry midseason. LaVine is a high-usage player who thrives with the ball in his hands, much like Lillard and Giannis. Integrating him into a system already built around two superstars could lead to diminishing returns.
By comparison, Khris Middleton has already proven his ability to coexist with Giannis in both complementary and starring roles. His off-ball movement and court spacing have been vital to the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense, particularly when Giannis draws double teams.
Zach LaVine offers the Bucks an offensive upgrade, but at what cost?
There’s no denying LaVine’s scoring prowess. He’s a better athlete than Middleton, a more dynamic slasher and a dangerous shooter from deep (44.2 percent on catch-and-shoot threes this season). However, his defensive limitations and decision-making have long been areas of concern, two things Middleton still very clearly bests him in even with his decline as of late.
The Bucks, who rank eighth in defensive rating (110.5) for the season, simply can’t afford to get worse on that end of the floor. LaVine is a below-average defender who has struggled to stay engaged, particularly off the ball. Middleton, while not the lockdown defender he once was, still brings positional size and IQ to the table, making him a more versatile option on both ends of the court.
This is evidenced by his matchup data, which shows opposing guards are only converting on 44.3 percent of their shots with Middleton as the closest defender.
Trading Middleton for LaVine wouldn’t just be a gamble—it’d be a high-stakes roll of the dice with the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship window on the line. Middleton, even as his game declines, offers a level of trust and familiarity that Milwaukee can count on in the postseason. LaVine, with his shaky health and defensive liabilities, introduces uncertainty at a time when the Bucks need stability.
The Milwaukee Bucks are finally finding their stride with Giannis and Lillard leading the charge. While Middleton’s injuries have limited his impact, his value to this team extends beyond the box score. Trading him for LaVine might look like an upgrade on paper, but it would be a step backward in reality.
Health, chemistry and trust have been the Bucks’ recipe for success in the past. Compromising those pillars for a flashy but risky move would be a grave mistake. If Milwaukee wants to contend this season, they’re better off keeping Middleton and trusting the formula that has worked before. Perhaps there is a smaller move they can pursue.
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