How Kyle Kuzma can help Bucks fans move on from Khris Middleton

Here are four ways Kuzma, who has averaged 31.3 minutes and 15.3 points for Milwaukee, can ingratiate himself with Bucks fans.

1. Be reliable

Over the past several seasons, Middleton has dealt with numerous injuries, including offseason surgery on his ankles. Over the past five seasons, he has played in just 284 of a possible 390 regular-season games (72.8%).

Kuzma, meanwhile, is more durable, playing in 508 of a possible 603 regular-season games (84.2%) from his debut in 2017 through his final game in Washington.

2. Be versatile

Kuzma is 6-foot-9, two inches taller than Middleton, allowing him to play both forward positions and find success inside the paint. His ability to play inside strengthens Milwaukee's inside attack with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis.

Additionally, Kuzma's ball-handling abilities in transition are strong despite his size, providing Milwaukee with a solid outlet option to take it coast to coast.

Middleton, meanwhile, typically only fills in at small forward and shooting guard.

3. Rebound, rebound, rebound

Kuzma brings an intensity to crashing the boards that Middleton doesn't. In his eighth season in the league, Kuzma averages 6.4 rebounds to Middleton's 4.8. This season, Kuzma is averaging 5.9 rebounds to Middleton's 3.7, the lowest of his career outside of his rookie season.

In Kuzma's three games with Milwaukee, he has averaged seven rebounds, placing him third on the team behind Antetokounmpo (12.2) and Portis (8.4).

Milwaukee ranks 19th in the NBA for rebounds per game, an area in which Kuzma could significantly boost the team's performance.

4. Provide contract value

Kuzma and Middleton have contracts with similar value (Kuzma at $90 million and Middleton at $93 million, per Spotrac). However, Kuzma's contract extends through the 2026-2027 season, while Middleton has a player option for the 2025-2026 season.

At 29, Kuzma is four years younger than Middleton. Having Kuzma with Milwaukee through 2026 and at a younger age are positives for the Bucks, who hope their new acquisition will find his rhythm and make substantial contributions.

Milwaukee (28-24), which is 3-7 in its past 10 games, is fifth in the Eastern Conference before Wednesday night's game at Minnesota.