While no trade in the world will be able to match the impact of the big Luka Doncic -Anthony Davis trade we saw over the weekend, the rest of the league appears to be active as the trade deadline approaches.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards are the latest couple of teams to pick up the phone and get some deals done. On Wednesday, Charania reported that the Bucks are trading three-time All-Star Khris Middleton along with A.J. Johnson and a pick swap to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and draft compensation.
“Breaking: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote.
Breaking: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/hCOzqqqUXE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025
Middleton is a 13-year NBA veteran who has played the last 12 years with the Bucks, winning an NBA title, an NBA Cup and an Olympic gold medal with the team (Tokyo, 2020). He has long been the subject of trade rumors and is in the midst of one of his least productive seasons due to injuries limiting him to seven starts and just 23 games.
Johnson was the Bucks’ 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after bypassing college to play professionally in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks. He has 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists this season.
Kuzma is in his eighth NBA season and was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers team that won the NBA title in 2020 and made the All-Rookie team in 2018. He’s been with the Wizards since 2021 and has averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game since joining them.
Baldwin is in his third NBA season after being the No. 28 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s played in 22 games this season without a start and has just seven starts in three seasons. This year he has 47 points, 22 rebounds and two assists.
The Bucks are 26-22 on the season while the Wizards are in the gutter at 8-41.
Who do you think won the trade?
Related: Veteran NBA Player Says The Trade Deadline Is ‘Modern Slavery’