Featured Columnist IVFebruary 5, 2025
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The Washington Wizards have the worst record in the NBA and could look to move the 33-year-old Khris Middleton and further focus on the future, but that reportedly is not the plan.
After ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Washington acquired Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap from the Milwaukee Bucks for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix noted the Wizards’ plan is to “hold on to” their newly acquired headliner “for now.”
Mannix highlighted the thought process behind such a decision:
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Wizards plan, for now, is to hold on to Khris Middleton, who played with Malcolm Brogdon in Milwaukee. Move gives Washington a little financial flexibility and frees up even more playing time/responsibility for its young wings. Plus they can take a flyer on AJ Johnson.
That’s something of a blow for Middleton, who went from a potential Eastern Conference contender in Milwaukee to an 8-41 team that apparently isn’t interested in moving him to a contender or maneuvering him off the roster.
Middleton won’t be playing in the postseason as a result, and the Bucks lost one of their most proven go-to options alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Antetokounmpo provided “a large vote of support” for the front office to acquire Kuzma.
The 29-year-old Kuzma is younger than Middleton and isn’t far removed from averaging 22.2 points a night last season. He hasn’t been as effective in 2024-25 while posting 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, but perhaps a change of scenery will help him rediscover his recent form.
Playing alongside Antetokounmpo should help as well given the spacing that is naturally created by the nine-time All-Star’s gravitational pull on the floor.
As for Middleton, he is signed through just this season with a $34 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign. That is a significant amount of money, but he may choose to decline the option and look for a contender on the open market during the upcoming offseason.
If that is his strategy, the Wizards don’t have to worry about him being on the books as they look to accelerate their rebuild in the coming years.
