In a lifetime, there are significant days that stand out. Whether that be the date you first met your significant other or the birth of your first child. The list of cliches is endless.
For the “sicko” NBA fan, you will remember exactly what you were doing the moment your team did something remarkable. On July 31, 2013, I kept refreshing “Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors” while listening to sports radio. Excited, I ran downstairs to tell the man cleaning my parents’ furnace. I didn’t know this man from Adam, nor did I know if he liked basketball. Yet, we celebrated the end of the Brandon Jennings era, eager to see Brandon Knight — and maybe “the other guy” — play.
After 4,209 days, the Bucks played without their third all-time leading scorer, franchise-record holder for three-pointers, 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, and NBA Champion Khris Middleton on their roster.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the Bucks traded him to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Pat Baldwin Jr. (rerouted to San Antonio), and a future second-round pick. This deal has Bucks faithful in shambles. If GM Jon Horst thought he could return to Twitter…he would be wise to stay off.
Trading Khash Money will sting for a long time, possibly marking the beginning of the end of this golden era of Bucks basketball. Aside from Giannis and (partially) Damian Lillard, the team feels like a group of players who peaked in high school. Yes, Pat, Bobby, and Brook.
Considering the length between now and 2021, this trade deadline wasn’t good, but was it really that bad?
Farewell to Khris Middleton Overdue?
As said before, sickos will remember where they were when this took place but will want to forget. I was in the process of writing about the Bucks needing to trade Middleton for anyone— except Kyle Kuzma.
Then Shams’ tweet confirming the trade popped up. I, too, want to forget.
We have grieved for our loss, but now it’s time to face reality. Yes, the Bucks needed to move on from Khris. This was the third straight season that he would fail to play 60 games on a three-year, $93 million contract. You want to talk about Kawhi Leonard and how he’s the epitome of load management? Even he played 68 games last season.
To give credit where credit is due, Khris was able to carry the Bucks in their last playoff series. He averaged nearly 25 points on 48 percent shooting in the series, including 42 in Game 3— on injured ankles. As a fan, you admire the fight, but as a GM, ignoring the history of his injuries, it was foolish not to attempt a trade sooner.
Best they could do?
Wherever your feelings lie regarding Jon Horst, his seat shouldn’t be warm for this specific trade. Last season, when Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton were a year younger, yes, maybe. This season’s trade of Khris? Not a chance.
Bucks fans dreamed of packaging Bobby, Pat, Brook, and Khris for a superstar to cruise to the Finals. All four of those players have an average age of 32.5, who are clearly declining heavily from their prime. But what team trades KD, Luka, Butler, or even LaVine for that group? The fact that Milwaukee dangled all four and got little interest should be eye-opening. To believe that Horst didn’t try his best means you aren’t a rational fan.
This franchise is extremely lucky to have gotten a player who is four years younger than Khris Middleton. Kyle Kuzma wasn’t the dream return, but now the dust has settled. Swapping an injury-prone player for an explosive one is a deal you take every time. While he may not elevate the Bucks to title favorites, he brings much-needed energy to a team that needs it.
‘Kuuuuuuuz’
Now, they will navigate the rest of the season with Kuzma. He came from the NBA-worst Wizards, who have yet to hit 10 wins. Before the trade, he ranked 475th in the league in offensive rating while averaging 15.2 points per game, on 42 percent from the field and 28 percent from three, in 32 games.
Jordan Poole and Kuzma were considered the faces of the Washington franchise. Just looking at his stat sheet and having that poor offensive production would raise eyebrows immediately, especially since the Wizards are the bottom-feeding team in the NBA, and fans have a Khris-sized hole in their hearts.
In four games with the Bucks (29-24 at the All-Star Break), he’s slightly improved, averaging 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and shooting 42 percent, with a high of 21 against the Golden State Warriors. It’s a small sample, but he exemplifies the size, athleticism, the ability to drive, and the occasional knock-down-a-three type of player they’ve been missing. These were attributes Khris was getting depleted of.
In the End
As Wisconsin sports fans, we shouldn’t be surprised by this. When was the last time an icon stayed in Wisconsin their entire career? Shrink that pool of players to the Milwaukee Bucks— who will be splashing around?
If trading 33-year-old Khris Middleton, who averaged 12 points on 23 minutes per game in 23 games, well past the midway point of the NBA season, for a player who CAN get up and down the court for Giannis Antetokounmpo makes you mad, you are watching Bucks basketball emotionally. You aren’t invested in the Bucks winning another NBA title.
Hatred towards Khris Middleton was never warranted. Over a week later, Kuzma played four games, while Khris had yet to even suit up— not even to camp in the corner and shoot threes. You can claim Jon Horst mismanaged his assets (AJ Johnson, sure), but in the moment, pulling off this trade is impressive.
The fans just have to detach themselves from the beloved player.
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