Lakers Fans Should Be Excited After Bizarre Bucks Trade for Kyle Kuzma

This move should make Laker Nation happy.

With just over 24 hours remaining until the 2025 NBA trade deadline, there’s been plenty of action. However, the most shocking moment came on Saturday evening when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a trade for Luka Doncic, stunning the world and taking advantage of the Dallas Mavericks. As a result, the Lakers are now positioned for success over the next decade, and the real reasons behind the Mavericks’ decision to make this trade may never fully be known.

In the days that followed, other deals trickled in, and while none matched the magnitude of the Luka trade, some will certainly have an impact on the Lakers’ future plans, both in the current season and beyond. One notable move was De’Aaron Fox’s trade to San Antonio, significantly strengthening the Spurs and making them a major rival for the Lakers again.

Then, on Wednesday morning, the Milwaukee Bucks announced a surprising deal: veteran Khris Middleton was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. The full trade details are as follows: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and a 2025 second-round pick to the Bucks, while Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, and a 2028 first-round pick swap head to the Wizards.

Kuzma Likely Doesn’t Boost Milwaukee’s Title Chances This Year

Now, you might wonder how a trade between two Eastern Conference teams could affect the Lakers’ title hopes. The answer is simple. By bringing in Kuzma to replace Middleton in Milwaukee, it probably lowers the Bucks’ chances of winning the championship this season.

Some may argue that Middleton’s struggles mean that moving him might be beneficial, but the Bucks will still need time to adjust to Kuzma’s style of play. While playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo could make things easier for Kuzma, it’s unclear whether he can build chemistry with the team quickly enough.

With Milwaukee needing time to adjust, their chances of coming out of the Eastern Conference in the playoffs seem slimmer. While they likely would have faced stiff competition from teams like the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers anyway, this trade introduces even more uncertainty into their title hopes.

Now, with Luka Doncic on their roster, the Lakers have one less concern. If a team like Milwaukee is still trying to find their rhythm before the playoffs, that’s one fewer contender for LA to worry about.