Headline: Bucks Shake Up Roster: Middleton Exits as Kuzma Joins in Blockbuster Trade with Wizards

The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to trade Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson in order to acquire Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. from the Washington Wizards, as reported by ESPN’s senior NBA insider, Shams Charania.

The transaction, which was disclosed on Wednesday, includes a pick swap for the Wizards and draft compensation in the form of a second-round pick for the Bucks, in addition to the four players involved, according to Charania.

Middleton, who is 33 years old, joined the Bucks in 2013, just a day after Giannis finalized his rookie contract. This marks a significant moment in both players’ careers and for the organization, having celebrated an NBA championship in 2021 together.

In the 2024-25 regular season, Middleton was hampered by injuries, making only 23 appearances and averaging 12.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. On the other hand, Johnson, picked 23rd overall in the 2024 draft, participated in seven games, contributing 2.9 points, 1.0 assists, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.1 steals per game.

Kuzma, aged 29, was chosen as the 27th pick in the 2017 draft. He spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, including their championship run in 2020, before being traded to the Wizards ahead of the 2021-22 season. During the current 2024-25 season, he has averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game over 32 appearances, with 30 of those being starts.

Baldwin, now 22, has played 94 games in the NBA, averaging 2.1 points, 1.0 rebound, 0.1 assists, 0.1 steals, and 0.1 blocks across 22 games this season.

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