Wizards Land Bucks All-Star in Trade Prediction

The Washington Wizards could add an All-Star while molding the future for the team.
Jan 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;  Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Jan 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are getting dangerously close to the NBA Trade Deadline, where they will finally decide whether or not to keep Kyle Kuzma around.

Kuzma, 29, has not been playing his best basketball this season, albeit he has dealt with a few injuries, including one that forced him to miss a whole consecutive month of action with his ribs.

The Wizards' rebuild and Kuzma's awkward fit for a team angling towards the future could lead to a trade before the Feb. 6 deadline.

ESPN insider Bobby Marks suggests a trade that would send Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for Khris Middleton and a 2029 first-round pick.

"There is a $9 million difference in salary, but this trade works because of the Kuzma trade bonus. The Wizards add another first-round pick and get financial relief in 2026-27," Marks writes.

"The Wizards would owe Kuzma a $7.5 million bonus if he was traded Feb. 6. The bonus would be spread evenly over his salary this season and the next two years. Kuzma also has $4.2 million in unlikely bonuses that count toward the apron."

Though Middleton is a three-time All-Star, he has only played in 21 games so far this season, averaging 11.9 points per game, his lowest since joining the Bucks back in the 2013-14 campaign.

The Bucks have been looking to get off of Middleton's contract, which owes him $31.6 million this season and a player option that has him on the hook for $34 million next year.

The Wizards would make a deal like this to get off of Kuzma's deal, which lasts one season longer. They could also have Middleton in the fold as a mentor for the younger players for the next year or so, which could be extremely valuable.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.