365 Days Later: Revisting The Kuzma-Middleton Trade

On February 5th, 2025, the Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks made a trade that massively impacted both rosters ahead of the 2024-25 season’s trade deadline. The trade, a four-team deal, sent Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks in exchange for Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson. Now, 365 days later, let’s explore how this deal looks in retrospect, and its trajectory moving forward.

365 Days Later: Revisting The Kuzma-Middleton Trade

The NBA trade deadline last season was all about the absolute blunder from the Dallas Mavericks, trading Luka Doncic and Maxi Kleber for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. The Kuzma-Middleton trade went under the radar, but both teams have changed exponentially since the deal happened. One for the better, and one for the worst. Not all NBA trades are a win-win, and this one is possibly one of the best examples.

Milwaukee Bucks

365 Day Trade Grade: D-

At the time of the deal, the Bucks were flipping an aging and injury-prone former All-Star in Middleton for a natural scorer in the midst of a slump in Kuzma. Kuzma was coming off two straight 20+ points per game seasons, carrying Washington, which was having a down year in the midst of younger guys playing. Milwaukee was hoping he would return to his former self, which didn’t happen.

Now in 2026, it’s safe to say the Bucks’ side of the trade has been nothing short of disastrous. Kuzma, unfortunately, has not been a positive addition to the team. In fact, this deal was the beginning of Milwaukee’s problems. The Bucks needed a Middleton-level scorer to compete with the Indiana Pacers last season in the first round of the playoffs, but Kuzma did not match that.

He averaged just 5.3 points for the series, shooting 34.5% from the field and 20% from behind the arc. In Game 1 of the series, Kuzma would shoot 0-5 from the field while contributing zeros across the board in over 21 minutes of playing time. Game 4 was just as ugly, with a 1-6 performance, finishing with three points and one assist in 16 minutes of playing time. After the season, they would cut nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, with Antetokounmpo beginning to express doubts about his future in Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo and Middleton were the dynamic duo behind their long string of postseason appearances, including the franchise’s second championship ever in 2021. Trading Middleton signaled the franchise was trying to recapture the dominance it had in the early parts of the decade. Now, just a year later, they are headed for a full-scale rebuild, actively looking for Kuzma buyers and a potential suitor for the former MVP.

Washington Wizards

365 Day Trade Grade: A

The Wizards giving up Kuzma was the team’s best option. Moving on from young talent could’ve set the team back even further. Unfortunately, of the two “stars” on the team, the 2020 NBA champion wasn’t pulling his weight. Jordan Poole was having a remarkable year, and Washington decided to let him keep improving his market value, eventually leading to four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young.

The Wizards won this deal last season, watching the playoffs told everyone that. However, this season, they have taken the win to new heights. Middleton and Johnson, unbelievably, were swapped in Washington’s second blockbuster of the season, bringing in Anthony Davis and just about all the depth the team could ever need.

Essentially, the Wizards swapped a failing scorer for an aging veteran and an athletic scorer. Which then turned into the likes of great depth and a ten-time NBA All-Star. Losing the cap space and the draft capital was tough, but there is no denying that, barring injuries, this team is now looking for a title.

It’s safe to say Washington won the NBA trade deadline last season and this season. Now with Davis, the Wizards are a formidable opponent for any team in the Eastern Conference, and very well could be the team to beat next season.

The Last Word

Concluding all of the information above, there are two reasons Washington continues to make Milwaukee’s front office look horrible. Number one, two of the players the Bucks gave the Wizards were included in a package to bring in a superstar, and just last year, they could’ve offered a similar package to pair Davis with Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Number two, Kuzma was the beginning of the end for a dynasty that never got a chance to start.  The Bucks royally messed up, and unfortunately, one mistake is all it takes to destroy a franchise.