In the aftermath of the Milwaukee Bucks trading their all-time greatest player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to the Miami Heat, Kyle Kuzma might be the next veteran name to get moved before the 2026-27 season tips off. The Bucks are most likely shopping him and looking to shed some other veteran contracts, with Kuzma and Myles Turner surely at the top of the league’s interest.
Kuzma’s numbers themselves weren’t bad. At 31 years old, he put up 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 69 games, shooting 49.2% from the field and 34.7% from three. His volume dropped in Milwaukee, sure, but his efficiency actually went up, and he can still handle the ball, attack smaller defenders, and slide between both forward spots on defense.
He’s also sitting on a very tradeable $20.5 million expiring deal. Don’t expect a first-rounder to come back for him given the diminished role he played last season, but that contract opens up plenty of realistic paths involving young guys, second-round picks, or vets who simply fit better to mentor their younger pieces.
So far, only the Lakers have actually been floated as a real suitor, with Jake Weinbach naming him as a plausible forward target. Everything else below is built off roster logic, salary math, and team needs rather than anything reported.
6. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jordan Hawkins, Saddiq Bey
The Pelicans somehow followed up a 26-56 season with one of the sleepiest offseasons in the league. Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears are all still around, and that group still finished 11th in the West without anywhere near enough scoring punch to support the young guys.
Kuzma slots in as a forward who can generate his own offense without leaning on Murphy or Queen for every bucket. He could even play next to Zion as a bigger wing, though spacing gets ugly fast whenever Jones or a non-shooting center is also on the floor with them.
The cost here wouldn’t sting much. Jordan Hawkins averaged just 5.1 points in 13.6 minutes, and his name has already been floating around in trade chatter, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. Saddiq Bey is mostly there to make the salaries match, and he’s heading into the last year of his deal anyway.
For Milwaukee, Hawkins is the real bet. He’s only 24, moves well off the ball, and still has the shooting weapon teams look for in a rotation guard. Bey could step straight into some of Kuzma’s old forward minutes, or just become the next expiring contract they flip down the road.
Money-wise, it’s tight but workable. Hawkins makes $7.0 million, and Bey makes $6.4 million, so that’s roughly $13.5 million going out. New Orleans sits below the first apron, which means they’re clear to absorb Kuzma’s $20.5 million without any real gymnastics.
Then, a lineup with Dejounte Murray healthy, Jordan Poole, Murphy, Kuzma, and Zion to close out games would at least give the Pelicans some hope to go from out of the Play-In to playoff contention next year.
In the Bucks’ lineup, in contrast, Hawkins would be a cheap, low-risk bet they can try to develop after showing out his range in his first few seasons, while Bey proved to be a nice complementary scorer for a team that was drifting in the bottom of the conference last season.
5. Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Patrick Williams, 2032 second-round pick
The Chicago Bulls went 31-51 and finished 12th in the East, but they clearly haven’t waved the white flag on this group. They added Norman Powell and Nic Claxton to a roster that already featured Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and a handful of recent first-rounders, so this looks a lot more like “stay competitive while we develop” than a full teardown.
Kuzma would give them a bigger scoring option next to Buzelis or rookie sensation Caleb Wilson, someone who doesn’t need Giddey to manufacture every single look. Kuzma scored at least 21.2 points a night in three straight seasons before landing in Milwaukee, so there’s a real case that more touches bring that back.
The obvious issue is the traffic jam. Buzelis, Wilson, Noa Essengue, and Patrick Williams are already fighting over forward minutes, and adding a seasoned veteran to that mix doesn’t exactly clean things up, though dealing Williams at least frees up one clear opening.
Williams himself put up just 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last season on 37.2% shooting and 34.7% from three. His development has stalled out, but he’s still only 25, a versatile defender, and the kind of experiment the Bucks can permit themselves after dealing Giannis and facing a murky future.
He’s got three guaranteed years left at $18.0 million a season, plus an $18.0 million player option in 2028-29. That contract is heavy enough that Chicago would need to toss in a second-rounder, even with Kuzma set to hit free agency next summer.
Milwaukee takes on more money long term, but Williams is seven years younger and might become a defensive fit. Chicago escapes the contract and adds a proven scorer without giving up anything meaningful in draft capital.
4. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Malik Monk, 2033 second-round pick
Sacramento needs a different shape of roster after finishing 22-60, second-worst in the entire West. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray all lost serious time to injury, but even a fully healthy version of this roster still feels expensive, undersized in the backcourt, and thin on forwards who can hold up on both ends.
Kuzma could start alongside Murray and Sabonis, giving the Kings another 6-foot-8 body who rebounds and can push the pace off a stop. He’s not a great defender or shooter, but even just his size would help a lineup that’s been leaning way too heavily on smaller guards and wings.
This also clears a lane for rookie Darius Acuff Jr. to actually develop. Devin Carter’s no longer on the roster, so Acuff, LaVine, and their next veteran mentor will be the ones splitting backcourt minutes next year. Monk’s still useful, but his role shrank last year to 12.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in just 22 minutes a night.
Flipping him gives Milwaukee a completely different look offensively. Monk can actually run pick-and-roll, attack closeouts, and generate shots for bench units, something Kuzma just wasn’t doing much of in his shrunken role. His 39.5% mark from three last season also gives the Bucks another movement shooter to work with.
The money lines up almost perfectly as Monk is s making $20.2 million. That 2033 second is basically the sweetener Milwaukee needs to justify trading a bigger forward for a smaller guard with two more guaranteed years attached.
This doesn’t turn Sacramento into a contender overnight, but the roster fits together a lot better. Acuff and LaVine handle backcourt creation, Kuzma and Murray cover the forward spots, and Sabonis stays the offensive hub in the middle.
3. Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Duncan Robinson, Paul Reed
After winning 60 games and finishing first in the East, the Detroit Pistons didn’t really need a crazy offseason, but their playoff exit made it pretty clear they should add another shot creator for whenever Cade Cunningham gets trapped or needs a breather. They spent the summer adding John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Kevin Huerter back without touching any core young pieces.
Kuzma isn’t the second star Detroit’s been hunting for, but he could be a very solid middle piece. He’s comfortable attacking mismatches, has been through a championship run before, and wouldn’t need the ball ahead of Cunningham or Jalen Duren.
It’s not a flawless fit since Collins already eats up a lot of power forward minutes, but Kuzma can play more small forward than Collins does, and he’d give Detroit another scorer for the slower, more physical basketball that shows up in the playoffs.
Robinson is the logical salary to send out now that Isaiah Joe is already on the roster. He averaged 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season, still one of the best movement shooters anywhere, and he shot 45.6% from three during a strong 13-game playoff run.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, gets a perfect asset to flip at the deadline to a desperate contender. Robinson doesn’t need the ball in his hands, he forces defenders to chase him around screens all game, and he creates real space instead of just standing in the corner. Paul Reed adds another energetic backup big man behind Turner and Kel’el Ware.
Robinson’s making $16.0 million and Reed’s making $5.6 million, so that $21.6 million combined easily covers Kuzma’s number. Robinson only has $2.0 million guaranteed for 2026-27 before later guarantee dates kick in, and Reed’s deal becomes fully guaranteed in January, so Milwaukee keeps some flexibility either way.
Detroit gives up real shooting depth here, but they’re not parting with a first-rounder or a young core piece. For a 60-win team looking for one more shot creator, that trade-off is at least worth thinking about.
2. Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Moses Moody, Gui Santos, Gary Payton II, 2033 second-round pick
The Golden State Warriors might be the team with the most glaring need on this whole list. They went 37-45, missed the playoffs entirely, and then went the whole offseason without signing a single outside free agent. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is their only genuinely new addition, and that’s simply not enough for a team still trying to win now around Stephen Curry.
Kuzma isn’t a full fix, but he gives the Warriors a real scorer while Jimmy Butler works his way back from an ACL injury. He can anchor bench units, play the four next to Kristaps Porzingis, and take on tougher, more physical matchups than most of Golden State’s current wings can handle.
They also badly need someone who’s actually willing to attack the paint. The Warriors finished just 22nd in scoring last season, and way too many possessions turned into Curry forcing something difficult while everyone else just stood around the arc. Kuzma isn’t efficient enough to be a real second option, but he can at least generate a clean shot without needing Curry to set it up.
Moody would be Milwaukee’s main return here. He was putting up career highs of 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 40.1% three-point shooting before a torn left patellar tendon ended his season in March. That injury adds real risk, but a healthy Moody is a younger, better defensive wing than Kuzma on his best day.
Santos gives Milwaukee another 24-year-old forward after a season of 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Payton’s in the deal purely for money reasons, since Golden State sits above the first apron and can’t take back more salary than it sends out.
Moody makes $12.5 million, Santos makes $4.6 million, and Payton’s deal runs around $3.9 million, which puts the outgoing money slightly over Kuzma’s $20.5 million cap number. The 2033 second isn’t a huge asset, but Milwaukee should get something for taking on an injured Moody and folding three players into one. For Golden State, it’s simply one more win-now swing before Curry’s window shuts for good.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht
With Kuzma being labeled as one of the more realistic forward targets for the Los Angeles Lakers while Milwaukee tests his market, this framework has at least a little realistic substance to it.
Kuzma already knows exactly what playing in LA feels like, and he won a title there back in 2020. That history isn’t really the point, though. The stronger argument is how his size and transition scoring could work next to Luka Doncic.
The Lakers reshaped their whole roster after LeBron left, bringing in Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, and Matisse Thybulle. That added more depth and defense, but with Jonathan Kuminga standing still, they’re still missing a bigger forward who can score and play some defense.
Kuzma could open games at the four or lead second units whenever Austin Reaves needs a rest. He’s never been much of a three-point shooter, but his cutting and transition instincts should thrive next to Doncic, who put up 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists a night last season.
Vanderbilt’s production dropped to just 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists last year. He’s still a genuinely good defender, but his lack of shooting makes him a tough fit next to Kessler or any other non-shooting center. Knecht basically fell out of the rotation entirely, going from 9.1 points as a rookie down to 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes.
For Milwaukee, Vanderbilt adds defensive versatility and rebounding right next to their younger core. Knecht is the upside swing, a 25-year-old shooter still on his rookie deal who could easily earn a bigger role than he’s been getting in LA.
Vanderbilt’s making $12.4 million and Knecht’s making $4.2 million, so that’s $16.6 million heading out the door. The Lakers need to either trade or cut a player before the season, as they are hard-capped at the first apron, but they still have enough space to take on Kuzma’s $20.5 million.
Nobody’s calling this a blockbuster, and Kuzma isn’t turning into the missing costar next to Doncic. But it does turn two limited rotation pieces into a proven forward who can give you 15 to 18 points, rebound, and handle more than one role on a given night.
For an expiring contract and no first-round pick attached, that’s probably the cleanest combination of fit, money, and realistic value out there right now.
