Former Ute Kyle Kuzma Has New Chance To Thrive In Milwaukee Alongside Lillard, Giannis

Feb 6, 2025, 1:25 PM | Updated: 3:46 pm

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY- Mixed in with some of the blockbuster trades was a transaction with a player with local ties on the move as former Utah Ute Kyle Kuzma was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Fans across the NBA landscape have been glued to social media this week as several moves prior to the trade deadline, like Luka Dončić to the Lakers and Brandon Ingram to the Raptors, have flipped the league on its head.

Breaking: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/hCOzqqqUXE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025

The exact details of the deal include Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin going to the Bucks in exchange for Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson, as well as a pick swap.

Kyle Kuzma was the 27th overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017 but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. He spent four seasons in LA before being shipped off to the Nation’s Capitol in a five-team deal in 2021.

Kuzma played 232 games with the Wizards but didn’t see much success, with only 75 wins in his four years with the team.

Despite team disappointment, Kyle had some of his best individual years in DC. In the 2023-2024 season, he averaged 22.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game and was the main scoring option and Wizards’ leading scorer.

Kyle Kuzma makes the Bucks better 👊🏽 Dynamic 6'10 forward who can make shots off the catch, put the ball on the floor, rebound and isn't afraid of the big moment. pic.twitter.com/5OtTiN8N7h

— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) February 5, 2025

How Kyle Kuzma Can Succeed With The Milwaukee Bucks

This year, however, Kuzma’s production has taken a hit with significant dips in every offensive category. His down year may have something to do with the fact that Washington has the least wins in the league and is last in offensive efficiency and second to last in defensive efficiency in the NBA.

Kyle Kuzma is headed to a team in a completely different situation. The Milwaukee Bucks currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings and will likely make the playoffs for the ninth year in a row.

Additionally, Kuzma will not need to carry all of the weight offensively as he did in Washington, as he will now be in a lineup with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. With less pressure, Kuzma may thrive as a third option on a playoff-contending team.

Kuzma will share the court with Lillard, who is 12th in the NBA in assists, a stat that Kyle is sure to benefit from as an off-ball scorer. Kuzma is also slightly below average from beyond the arc for a small forward in his career but has shot as well as 36.6% over the course of a season. As the third scoring option, Kuzma may himself open along the perimeter for some catch-and-shoot opportunities, giving him a chance at some less contested high-percentage opportunities.

Kyle Kuzma could make his debut for the Bucks as Milwaukee will take on the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow night.