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Bucks Trade Former Highly Touted $13 Million Player One Day After NBA Deadline Deal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan D Adams | Last updated Feb 6, 2025 1:12 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks continue to have a busy NBA trade deadline making even more moves after trading away Khris Middleton. Business in the NBA can be difficult as the Bucks' latest trade shows.

Milwaukee acquired Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. from the Washington Wizards in the deal for Middleton. The Bucks also sent AJ Johnson to the Wizards in the deal.

One day later, the Bucks are already moving on from one of their newly acquired players. In the span of 24 hours, Baldwin has been a member of the Wizards, Bucks and San Antonio Spurs.

The Bucks traded Baldwin and cash considerations to the Spurs, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

It does not appear that Milwaukee is receiving anything in return from San Antonio for Baldwin. This is a financial move made by the Bucks to potentially make additional trades.

How will you remember the Patrick Baldwin, Jr Bucks era? https://t.co/RmS202mWM1
— Alex Strouf (@alex_strouf) February 6, 2025

"The Milwaukee Bucks gain a little more second apron room by not acquiring Patrick Baldwin Jr.," Third Apron's Yossi Gozlan wrote on X on Thursday. "They're roughly $2.7 million below. This gives them more flexibility toward aggregating salaries in trades. They could also now give Kyle Kuzma all of his trade bonus."

Klay Thompson on Patrick Baldwin Jr.:

"PBJ has a beautiful shot. ... What a steal we got in him. Just oozing with potential."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 25, 2023

As a former five-star recruit, Baldwin was once projected to be a potential top-10 draft pick. Instead, Baldwin slipped to the No. 28 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA draft after one college basketball season for the Milwaukee Panthers. Baldwin is in the final season of a $13 million contract.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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