Giannis Antetokounmpo will have a new running mate in Milwaukee.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Milwaukee Bucks traded Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft pick compensation.
Middleton spent the last 12 seasons in Milwaukee and was a key piece in the Bucks' 2020-21 NBA championship run. He was averaging 12.6 points on 51.2% shooting from the field in 23 games this season—his lowest scoring average since 2013-14, his second year in the NBA.
The Bucks now will pair Antetokounmpo with Kuzma, who has spent the last four seasons with the Washington Wizards. In 32 games this season, Kuzma is averaging 15.2 points per contest while shooting 42% from the field and a measly 28.1% from three-point range.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Antetokounmpo gave "a large vote of support" in Milwaukee acquiring Kuzma, who is under contract through the 2026-27 campaign.
Middleton, meanwhile, has a $34 million player option for the 2025-26 season. If he activates that option, Middleton will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. The Bucks are now about $300,000 below the second apron after the trade.
Johnson, the No. 23 pick by Milwaukee in the 2024 NBA draft, has appeared in just seven games this season and scored a total of 20 points. He is averaging 13.7 points and 4.8 assists in 10 games for the G League Wisconsin Herd.
Baldwin, a first-round pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2022, has now been traded twice in his young career. Baldwin registered 2.1 points in 4.6 minutes per contest in 22 games for Washington this season.
The NBA trade deadline is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Bucks Trade Khris Middleton to Wizards for Kyle Kuzma.
