(MILWAUKEE BUCKS) – The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Kyle Kuzma and draft compensation from the Washington Wizards in exchange for forward Khris Middleton, guard AJ Johnson, draft compensation and cash considerations. The Bucks have also acquired center Jericho Sims from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Delon Wright, the draft rights to Hugo Besson and cash considerations.
An NBA champion in 2021, a three-time NBA All-Star (2022, 2020, 2019) and an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Middleton spent 12 seasons with Milwaukee after starting his NBA career in Detroit in 2012-13. In 762 games (657 starts), he has accrued career averages of 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. Middleton is Milwaukee’s all-time leader in three-point field goals (1,382) and ranks second in team history in games played (735) and minutes played (23,039), third in points (12,586) and assists (2,990), fifth in steals (870) and field goals (4,574), sixth in free throws (2,056) and seventh in rebounds (3,598).
“Khris is one of the greatest players in Bucks history, and on behalf of our ownership group and organization, we will always be grateful for his 12-year dedication to the team and the Milwaukee community,” said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. “We thank Khris for the player, leader and person he is. He and his wife Sam have positively impacted the lives of so many people, especially children, and we wish them well.”
In four seasons with Washington (2021-25) and four with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-21), the 6-foot-9 Kuzma has appeared in 508 games (376 starts) and holds career averages of 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 31.1 minutes per game. He finished the 2023-24 season as one of six players in the Eastern Conference and one of 10 players in the NBA to average at least 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. While scoring a career-best 22.2 points per game last season, he recorded 30+ points in 11 appearances and 20+ points in 45, marking his most 30-point and 20-point games in a single season. A 2020 NBA champion and 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, Kuzma is one of only three forwards in the NBA who have made 125+ three-pointers in six different seasons since he entered the league.
“Kyle is a proven player who brings versatility on both sides of the ball and adds to our size and athleticism,” Horst said. “His championship-level experience and desire to compete impressed us. We’re excited to welcome Kyle to Milwaukee and our great community.”
In 177 career games (37 starts) in four seasons with the Knicks (2021-25), the 6-foot-10 Sims has averaged 2.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. Playing with the Westchester Knicks in nine career G League games, he notched 12.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game. Sims was drafted by New York with the 58th selection in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft and ranked 13th in rebounds per game (4.1) and eighth in blocks per game (0.54) as a rookie.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to add Jericho, who will provide depth and versatility to our frontcourt,” Horst said. “He’s a player who we’ve paid close attention to and are excited to bring to the Bucks.”
Johnson was selected by Milwaukee with the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He appeared in seven games with the Bucks this season and averaged 2.9 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist in 6.3 minutes per game. In 25 G League games (21 starts) on assignment with the Wisconsin Herd, he logged 13.4 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game.
In 10 career seasons with Milwaukee (2024-25), Miami (2024), Washington (2022-24), Atlanta (2021-22), Sacramento (2021), Detroit (2020-21), Dallas (2019-20), Memphis (2019) and Toronto (2015-19), Wright has averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes per game in 534 games (87 starts).
“We thank AJ and Delon for their time with the Bucks,” Horst said. “We wish them great success.”
Also in the multi-team trade, Milwaukee sent San Antonio cash considerations in exchange for draft compensation.
Milwaukee sent Patrick Baldwin Junior and cash to the San Antonio Spurs to make room on the roster for Ryan Rollins. The team also traded MarJon Beauchamp to the Los Angeles Clippers for Kevin Porter Junior. The Bucks drafted Porter in the 2019 NBA Draft but he has had several stops around the league since then.
