Bucks trades: Middleton, Kuzma headline players on the move
Bucks star Khris Middleton traded, impact on community
Khris Middleton has played the second-most games in Bucks history. Turns out, he saw his community members as teammates too.
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks finalized a number of swaps, notably sending NBA champion and three-time All-Star Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards, ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Here's a look at who landed in Milwaukee.
Kyle Kuzma
The backstory:
Kuzma, 29, is in his eighth NBA season. A first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a 2018 All-Rookie first team pick and won the 2020 NBA Finals with the Lakers. He spent the past four seasons with the Wizards.
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By the numbers:
Over more than 500 career games, Kuzma has averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He was one of 10 NBA players last season to average at least 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
Kyle Kuzma (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Local perspective:
Kuzma came to Milwaukee, along with draft compensation, as part of a multi-team trade that sent Middleton, AJ Johnson, draft compensation and cash considerations to Washington.
Jericho Sims
The backstory:
Sims, 26, is in his fourth NBA season – all with the New York Knicks. He was a second round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
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By the numbers:
Thus far in his career, Sims has averaged 2.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. He has appeared in 177 games, but started just 37 of those contests.
Jericho Sims (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Local perspective:
Sims came to Milwaukee as part of the same multi-team trade involving Middleton and Kuzma. The Bucks sent Delon Wright, the draft rights to Hugo Besson and cash considerations to the Knicks.
Kevin Porter Jr.
The backstory:
Porter, 24, is in his fifth NBA season and now joins his fourth team. Milwaukee technically selected Porter in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, though his draft rights ultimately landed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played one season. He went on to play three seasons with the Houston Rockets, and he played for the Los Angeles Clippers this season.
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By the numbers:
In more than 240 career games, Porter has started more than 140 contests and holds averages of 14.2 points, 4.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He also played for the Greek club PAOK during the 2023-24 season and averaged 22 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals.
Kevin Porter Jr. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Local perspective:
Porter came to Milwaukee from the Clippers in exchange for MarJon Beachamp.
Who did the Bucks trade away?
Local perspective:
Khris Middleton went to Washington after 12 seasons in Milwaukee. He was a 2021 NBA champion, three-time NBA All-Star and earned an Olympic gold medal with Team USA. He's the Bucks' all-time leader in three-point field goals and ranks second in team history in games played and minutes played. He is third in points and assists, fifth in steals and field goals, sixth in free throws and seventh in rebounds.
Bucks star Khris Middleton traded; Milwaukee legacy’s community commitment
Khris Middleton helped the Bucks win the NBA title in 2021, but has also helped the Milwaukee community.
MarJon Beachamp, who was in his third season with the Bucks, went to the Clippers. He played in more than 120 games, but started just 12, averaging 4.2 points and 2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game. Milwaukee picked him in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
AJ Johnson also went to Washington. Milwakuee picked him in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, and he appeared in seven games this season – spending most of his time with the G League Wisconsin Herd, where he started 21 games.
Delon Wright joined Milwaukee this past offseason after time across 10 NBA seasons with the Miami Heat, Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.
What about Patrick Baldwin Jr.?
Local perspective:
It was originally reported that Patrick Baldwin Jr., a Milwaukee Panthers alumnus who played at Sussex-Hamilton High School, was headed to Milwaukee as part of the multi-team swap that sent Middleton to Washington and Kuzma to Milwaukee.
Baldwin ultimately landed with the San Antonio Spurs, in exchange for draft compensation. He is in his third NBA season and now on his third team – following a rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and two seasons with the Wizards. He was a first-round pick in 2022.
Editor's note: Statistics are valid through Thursday night, Feb. 6.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee Bucks and NBA.