After a two-win, eight-loss start to the season, the Milwaukee Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 games following Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal defeat of the Atlanta Hawks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is firmly in MVP discussions while Damian Lillard is performing at his highest level since leaving the Portland Trail Blazers. Khris Middleton remains on a minutes limit and has come off the bench in his ramp up from offseason ankle surgeries.
Atlanta’s loss places them a game back of the Bucks for the final playoff spot in the East at the moment. While they may not be contenders, the Hawks hold a 6-2 combined record against the Bucks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks. Remarkably, they are only 8-11 in all other matchups.
In a recent story by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Hawks’ situation was laid out, “Given where the Hawks are, once again in the play-in race, if teams begin calling about their veterans, sources said, Atlanta will listen.”
Bontemps also wrote that their front office wants to “build around” Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onyeka Okongwu. Because they are competing for similar playoff positioning, a Bucks-Hawks trade may be a bit more challenging to complete.
However, a third team becoming involved could help facilitate a move between the two Eastern Conference foes.
The Washington Wizards have only won three games all season en route to the league’s worst record. Their front office could unload veteran talent in favor of draft capital and/or young assets at any point.
Recently, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points noted that Kyle Kuzma is signed until the summer of 2027 and, “Kuzma is drawing trade interest because his contract decreases in value by close to $2.1 million each season.”
Siegel later wrote, “…the Milwaukee Bucks also expressed interest in Kuzma previously, yet it would be almost impossible for them to acquire him due to second-apron restrictions.”
However, a three-team deal involving the three aforementioned clubs could look similar to the following:
Bucks receive: Kyle Kuzma, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Larry Nance Jr, Cody Zeller, Anthony Gill
Hawks receive: Khris Middleton, 2031 second-round pick (MIL)
Wizards receive: Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, AJ Johnson, MarJon Beauchamp, 2031 unprotected first-round pick (MIL), 2028 first-round pick swap (ATL), 2025 second-round pick (ATL)
Middleton would complement Trae Young nearly perfectly as an elite catch-and-shoot 3-and-D wing while the Wizards would have to consider the combination of young talent and draft capital offered.
Kuzma and Bogdanovic would give coach Doc Rivers reliable tertiary scoring threats behind Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Nance Jr. and Zeller would act as depth pieces to backup Brook Lopez in Portis’ hypothetical absence.
Rivers would have the optionality to use a more-switchable Nance Jr. when needed. Zeller could matchup against opposing centers who don’t offer much mobility or floor-stretching ability. Gill is more of a reserve wing, who doesn’t offer much upside, but definitely belongs on an NBA court.
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