Sources - Bucks trade Khris Middleton to Wizards for Kyle Kuzma - ESPN
The Bucks have traded Khris Middleton to the Wizards, ending his tenure as one of their franchise cornerstones in a multiplayer deal that sends Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Bucks also sent rookie guard AJ Johnson, their first-round draft selection last year, and a pick swap to Washington, which dealt forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation to Milwaukee, sources told Charania.
Middleton, 33, spent the past 11-plus seasons in Milwaukee and was one of the foundational pieces of the Bucks' championship team in 2021.
But Middleton has been hampered by injuries in recent years and continues to recover from offseason surgery on both ankles, which sidelined him for the first 21 games of this season and has limited his production — his 12.6 points per game is his lowest scoring average since 2013-14.
Middleton is owed $31.7 million this season and has a player option for next year worth $34 million. Kuzma is making $23.5 million this season, but his salary drops to $21.4 million next season, followed by $19.4 million in the final year of his deal.
To help Milwaukee build out its roster, Kuzma is reducing a portion of the trade bonus in his contract, sources told ESPN's Bobby Marks. The savings drops Milwaukee below the second apron, which will give the Bucks more flexibility to improve their roster going forward.
The Bucks can now aggregate salaries to make a trade, which they were previously restricted in doing under the collective bargaining agreement. But to achieve that flexibility, the Bucks traded their longest-tenured player who was a longtime running mate to franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Middleton rose from G League player to NBA All-Star on the