THE Washington Wizards are sending Kyle Kuzma is set to Milwaukee as he joins Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in the Bucks after getting traded for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pickswap on Wednesday evening (Philippine Time).
Patrick Baldwin and second-round draft compensation will be traded alongside Kuzma according to ESPN Senior Insider Shams Charania on X.
It has been a rough season for Kuzma as he's only putting up 15.2 points per game on just 42 percent shooting and just 28 percent from threes.
His scoring average is his lowest since joining the Wizards in a trade for Russell Westbrook in 2021, while his percentages are the lowest in his eight-year career.
This move might just be a career-saver for the former NBA champion as he gets to leave a miserable 8-41 Wizards, the worst team in the NBA, to join the fifth-seed Bucks who currently totes a 26-22 record -- still a long way from their title winning days, but certainly a better environment for the 29-year-old forward.
The Wizards will add a veteran voice to their young locker room by adding the 33-year-old Middleton, who was fresh off ankle surgeries in the offseason and has yet to rediscover his old play for the Bucks.
Middleton was integral to Milwuakee's 2021 NBA title run, with the sharpshooting wing often being the second-best player to Antetokounmpo during that run.
This conference though, he's only averaging 12.6 points and 4.4 assists in limited minutes as he eases his way back to fitness.
Joining Middleton is the Bucks' 2024 NBA draft first round pick AJ Johnson, forming a nice young core with fellow first rounders Alex Sarr and Bub Carringon
The trade adds up to what has been a busy deadline weekend for the NBA who's still reeling from the Luka Doncic - Anthony Davis trade which rocked the world last Saturday.
Also getting moved is De'Aaron Fox as he joins Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio.
There's still plenty of time for teams to make some changes, as the deadline is officially set on Friday, 4 a.m. in the Philippines.
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