NBA Trade News: Wizards 'Getting Close' to Move Kyle Kuzma For Khris Middleton; Jonas Valanciunas For Jusuf Nurkic

Kuzma is still under contract and won’t be an unrestricted free agent until the end of the 2026-27 season. This year, he’s set to earn $23.5 million. Over the next two seasons, however, he is owed $40.8 million. Middleton, on the other hand, is nearing the expiration of his three-year, $93 million contract. The Bucks star has a salary of $31.6 million in this campaign. The 2021 champion could enter free agency in the summer if he doesn’t exercise his $34 million player option.

Throughout the last two seasons, Middleton has struggled with injuries. The seasoned forward has had trouble staying healthy up to this point and missed the first 15 games because of ankle surgery.

Valanciunas, a free agent who signed with the Wizards over the summer, has a three-year, $30.2 million contract. The player he’s rumored to be traded for is Nurkic. The Bosnian big man has two more years left in his contract and is owed $37.4 million from this season until the 2025-26 campaign.

Since January 9, Nurkic has not played and has been removed from Phoenix’s rotation. The big man is averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in his second season with the Suns, but his stats have declined.

NBA fans mocked the Bucks for planning on trading for the Wizards’ Kuzma

There have only been rumors and reports that the Wizards forward could join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in Milwaukee. However, not everyone is a fan of the idea. On X, fans mocked the Bucks for wanting to give up on Middleton, who’s a three-time All-Star, for Kuzma.

“imagine someone telling you have the same value as kyle kuzma

” a fan said.

“Kuzma is literally not better than Khris,” another fan commented.

“What’d Middleton do to deserve that?” one fan posted.

“Not the best move for Milwaukee. No point in ending the Middleton tenure for Kuzma.”

“Trading a player that won you a championship to the Wizards is crazy”

“What a L this would be for Milwaukee”

“Terrible trade for the bucks”

“Why would bucks do this

”