The Milwaukee Bucks' trade interest in Zach LaVine is rife once again this season. With all of the chatter, it's clear that Kyle Kuzma is on the table for trades, despite his good performances lately.
Bucks still willing to move Kuzma to make a splash
At the end of the 2024-25 season, Kuzma's trade value was clearly in the gutter after a dismal display in the postseason. So far this season, he has played far better and provided reasons for the Bucks to sell to teams and get a trade over the line.
Doc Rivers had moved the forward to the bench, where he looked far more comfortable, being smarter and not forcing tough shots that we saw during his spell with the team last year. He led the team to a win over the Boston Celtics, scoring 31 points on 13-of-17 (76.5 percent) shooting.
This season, he is averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on improved shooting splits of .515/.329/.731.
LaVine has been a constant name that has come up in recent years as a target for Milwaukee. That is the same story once again this season, with the Sacramento Kings being dismal and the Bucks needing something to lift them up the Eastern Conference standings.
The former Chicago Bull is averaging 20.2 points on shooting splits of .487/.385/.867. He would definitely improve the Bucks' offense, in particular when Giannis is off the court. However, adding another guard who doesn't help the defense could make the problem worse, let alone bringing his $46.5 million salary onto the books.
Kuzma is the top name on the Bucks trade list, with his $22.4 million salary being towards the top end of the payroll. It is tough for Milwaukee to piece assets together, with both the lack of draft capital and valuable players to move, making any trade tough. Myles Turner's underwhelming impact has also led to certain outlets floating the idea of the big free agent acquisition being moved, but it is more likely if Giannis Antetokounmpo is moved first.
Giannis is the sole focus, with all of the reports continuously coming out around his future with the team. A move for LaVine would improve the Bucks, but wouldn't necessarily fix everything, and there is no telling if the move would keep the two-time MVP happy to remain in Wisconsin.
There is no doubting this team needs improvement, and their interest in LaVine is clear, as Jon Horst is willing to make another bold move. This puts Kuzma on the table for any trade, despite his positive performances so far this season.