Moving on from Khris Middleton wasn’t an easy decision for the Milwaukee Bucks, and it certainly didn’t make things any better, considering they landed Kyle Kuzma in return.
However, ultimately, the Bucks had to do what they had to do, as the front office was in a strange position and wanted to ensure that they could make the necessary moves during the offseason to improve their roster. The Bucks achieved that by adding Myles Turner.
The hope and expectation is for them to be better than they were a year ago before the Middleton trade.
But moving on from Kuzma will be something the Bucks obviously want to do, depending on what they get in return and what they have to give up for a team to take on his contract.
In a recent trade idea from Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudel, the Bucks would accomplish that in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks, but the return isn’t exactly great, and they’d also have to give up a first-round pick.
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Hawks Receive: Andre Jackson Jr
Bucks Receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and a 2029 second-round pick (from ATL, via CLE)
Lakers: Kyle Kuzma, a 2026 second-round pick (from MIL, via UTA), and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick swap (via MIL)
“They rid themselves of Kuzma’s contract and get two players who would be useful to them. Vincent has not been the player he was while in Miami, but if he can rediscover the high level defensive ability and three-point shot making, he could be a very useful player. Kleber needs to stay healthy and rediscover his three-point shot as well. This would be another attempt to improve the team around Giannis in a weak Eastern Conference,” he wrote
Vincent and Kleber are decent players, and there’s even an argument to be made that Vincent could be a decent role player for the Bucks.
However, given they’re somewhat loaded at the point guard position now after their offseason moves, he might not have much of a place to play.
