Kyle Kuzma was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before last year's NBA trade deadline. Less than a calendar year later, the former Los Angeles Lakers champion may be forced to look for a real estate agent once more.
The Bucks have hit a point of desperation. They are looking for any and every reason to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo of why the dominant superstar should stay in Milwaukee. As futile as that attempt may be, that is indeed the current reality in Wisconsin.
Any substantial upgrade to the Bucks roster is likely to include Kuzma heading in the other direction. The $22.4 million being earned by the veteran forward does not entirely match up to his production. Any higher-priced salary that Milwaukee targets would pretty much necessitate his inclusion.
Michael Scotto reported, "The trade candidates for Milwaukee are generally considered Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis. ... Kyle Kuzma has been a guy who's certainly come up in different conversations as they're trying to figure out what they're gonna do."
Bucks' desperate push to keep Giannis could relocate Kuzma elsewhere
Scotto joined Eric Nehm, Jake Fischer, and other insiders to have recently reported of the Bucks' intention to be buyers, not sellers, ahead of February. Milwaukee has been 'steadfast' about not moving Antetokounmpo, according to Scotto. They want to be active and improve the roster.
There is a lot of work to be done for a team barely hanging around the Play-In spots of the Eastern Conference. They are having to overcome the hurdle of racking up those wins while Antetokounmpo is on the sidelines with a calf strain.
Kuzma has quietly delivered some solid scoring for the Bucks after a disappointing his run with his new team. The indisputable low point of last season for the former Laker was the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
Kuzma was a ghost in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Bucks forward averaged 5.8 points per game, shooting 34.3 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
2025-26 has shown a much more efficient version of Kuzma in a Milwaukee uniform. The 30-year-old is flirting with the best true shooting percentage of his career. The number itself is far from elite, but it does easily supplant the previous seasons that have come before it.
Despite that, this late push from Kuzma may not be enough to overcome a rough start with the Bucks. A desperate heave to keep Giannis in Milwaukee will spare few in the process.