By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Milwaukee Bucks are set to part ways with Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson to secure the services of Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. from the Washington Wizards via trade, according to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
The deal revealed on Wednesday includes a pick swap for the Wizards and second-round draft compensation for the Bucks, beyond the four players, as noted by Charania.
Middleton, 33, was traded to the Bucks in 2013, one day after Giannis signed his rookie contract. The rest is history, including an NBA championship in 2021. Their breakup is a huge milestone for both players and the franchise.
Limited by injuries to 23 appearances in the 2024-25 Regular Season, Middleton averaged 12.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest. Meanwhile, Johnson, the 23rd pick of the 2024 draft, was featured in seven games, producing 2.9 points, 1.0 assists, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.1 steals per contest.
Kuzma, 29, was selected with the 27th pick of the 2017 draft. After four years with the Los Angeles Lakers, including the championship campaign in 2020, he was traded to the Wizards before the 2021-22 season. In the ongoing 2024-25 journey, he tallied 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest over 32 games, including 30 starts.
Baldwin, 22, is a veteran of 94 appearances in the NBA, including 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.1 steals, and 0.1 blocks over 22 games this season.