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Milwaukee Bucks Exploring Trade Options for Unpopular Starter Ahead of 2025 Season

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 9:40 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks, much to the dismay of the national media and other NBA teams, will not be trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. Of course, many Bucks fans knew/believed this would be the case as the two-time NBA MVP has made it clear, on multiple occasions, that he is not “the kind of guy” who would ever request a trade. Furthermore, the 2025-26 season marks the first year of the three-year contract extension he signed with Milwaukee after they acquired Damian Lillard.

And while Lillard will be out for most (if not all) of the upcoming season due to a torn Achilles, the Bucks are going to do everything they can to build a competitive team around their superstar.

This means, of course, that they will be making some significant changes to their roster following Milwaukee’s third consecutive opening round postseason loss.

The Milwaukee Bucks Are Gauging the Trade Market for Kyle Kuzma

Milwaukee Bucks Exploring Trade Options for Unpopular Starter Ahead of 2025 Season 1 Feb 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) reacts after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Unfortunately for the Bucks, they do not seem to have many trade assets with which to make any needle-moving deals. They also do not have much salary cap space to work with, which means they will not be signing any marquee free agents.

However, according to Bucks Realm on social media, which boasts several sources within the organization, general manager Jon Horst is currently gauging the trade market for starting forward Kyle Kuzma:

BREAKING: The Bucks have already begun exploring the option of trading F Kyle Kuzma in favor of depth should the right deal materialize, sources tell me.

The FO believes Kuzma can be the high-volume scorer that they saw at the deadline, but youth & depth appear to be paramount. pic.twitter.com/b03REb2Ivs

— BucksRealm (@BucksRealm) June 18, 2025

Kuzma, of course, was acquired by the Bucks in the mid-season trade that sent Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson to the Washington Wizards. Prior to the trade, the 2020 NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers was averaging 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 42/28/60 from the floor.

After being acquired by the Bucks, Kuzma averaged 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 46/33/66 from the floor.

While Kuzma brough athleticism and availability to Milwaukee, something they did not get from Middleton over the last few seasons, his poor shooting did/does not make him an ideal player alongside Giannis.

Presumably, the Bucks are trying to offload Kuzma for some shooters on expiring contracts so that they will have more salary cap space available next offseason while also adding better compliments to Giannis this season.

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

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