With all they had left to give in their warchest, the Milwaukee Bucks made a last, desperate bet at the trade deadline. Now, down 1-3 in their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, it looks like the Washington Wizards are the ones cashing in. There's nowhere to go but up for Washington, and Milwaukee can only watch on the way down.
It's not the end of the world to admit it, but it does hurt to say: the Washington Wizards absolutely won their trade deadline swap with Milwaukee. By exchanging Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks hoped to refresh their core around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Instead, they handed Washington a win on a silver platter.
The Wizards offloaded Kuzma's bloated contract and streaky, inefficient scoring — a headache that wasn't getting them anywhere — and instead added a promising piece in AJ Johnson, plus a respected veteran in Middleton, whose professionalism and leadership are exactly what a rebuilding roster needs.
For Washington, it's all upside going forward: a young talent pipeline, future flexibility and a clear path toward a smarter rebuild. For Milwaukee? It’s panic.
There's no debate: Wizards won the Middleton- Kuzma trade
When the Milwaukee Bucks traded Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma at the deadline, it was framed as a bold swing for a title. They were adding fresh legs. Younger scoring. Supposed defensive versatility. In theory, it was the kind of aggressive move a contender has to make when the window feels like it's closing.
But in practice? It’s been a disaster — and the Wizards couldn't be happier about it.
The Bucks now trail the Indiana Pacers 1-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Their offense, without Damian Lillard, is sputtering. Their defense has fallen apart. And Kyle Kuzma, the supposed answer, looks more like an anchor than a life raft.
The Bucks thought Kuzma would give them shot creation, wing scoring and defensive versatility. What they got instead was an erratic offensive player who struggles to finish games, doesn't consistently defend and often stalls the offense. With Damian Lillard injured and Middleton gone, Milwaukee’s margin for error collapsed — and Kuzma hasn’t been able to lift them out of it.
What's worse is that Kuzma somehow looks worse than he did when he first arrived in town. Back then, he at least showed that he could affect games even without scoring the basketball. Now, he's simply looked like a net negative against the Indiana Pacers.
Bottom line: the Milwaukee Bucks needed an instant impact. They needed a guy who could make them better immediately and raise their ceiling. Instead, they downgraded on both ends. Kuzma's inefficiency and defensive lapses were obvious risks, and in the crucible of playoff basketball, they've been exposed completely.
With Damian Lillard potentially out for a year, the one saving grace for Milwaukee would have been the opportunities for the young Bucks waiting in the wings. They had that once upon a time in AJ Johnson: a lanky, lightning-quick, score-first playmaker with size and length who would have been the perfect complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo at the point guard or shooting guard spot. They had a young prospect. They don't anymore.
And now, the Wizards move forward with a clear direction, more assets, and financial flexibility. The Bucks are stuck watching Giannis' prime burn away while trying to convince themselves that Kuzma was ever the answer.
It’s early, but this looks like a trade Washington will smile about for a long time — and one Milwaukee might regret just as long.
The Wizards couldn’t be happier. The Bucks couldn’t be more stuck.
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