The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that is only in the 13th seed in the Western Conference, but they could end up being in a playoff position by the end of the season since they are only a few games out of the 6th seed in the West. Many fans have clamored for the team to make a win-now move right now.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks are a contending team right now, but their holes have been on display a number of times this season. Khris Middleton’s durability has been an issue for the team, and obviously, there are some concerns about him aging and not being the same player. The priority right now for the Milwaukee Bucks should be finding a top-tier co-star for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Perhaps the Lakers and the Bucks can try to find a deal with the Washington Wizards, who look to be on the verge of a rebuild. Here is a three-team trade that would send Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma to the Lakers, and Bradley Beal to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards Receive: Russell Westbrook, Jordan Nwora, MarJon Beauchamp, Max Christie, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIL)
This trade could potentially have benefits for all three teams involved, and there are clear reasons for each side to go through with this three-team trade. Here is why the Lakers, Bucks, and Wizards should consider making this deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers Receive Some Elite Forwards
The big issue this season for the Los Angeles Lakers has been the lack of offensive production around LeBron James since he’s been injured. This deal would get them Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma, both of whom have a reputation as good offensive players.
Even though Khris Middleton has struggled when he has played this season, he is still an All-Star caliber player when healthy. He is a three-level scorer who knows how to play off-ball and can be a solid secondary ballhandler. Middleton’s defense may have gotten worse since his prime, but he is not close to being a liability to that end of the floor. There is no doubt that Khris Middleton’s skillset will work perfectly next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Kyle Kuzma is a two-way forward that has won a championship with LeBron James, and he is a much better player than he once was. He would bring the rebounding, toughness, and scoring punch that the Los Angeles Lakers need. As of right now, Kyle Kuzma is averaging 21.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 4.0 APG, and it is entirely possible that he’d be the Lakers’ No. 3 option in this scenario over Khris Middleton, despite Middleton being the more accomplished player.
The Los Angeles Lakers would have to move Russell Westbrook, Max Christie, and their 2029 first-round pick in this trade. They would get to keep one of their picks in this deal, and that helps the team maintain flexibility in the future. Though both Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma could become free agents in the offseason, if either or both re-sign with the Lakers, then this deal could end up being an absolute steal for the team.
The Milwaukee Bucks Pair Giannis Antetokounmpo And Bradley Beal
The Milwaukee Bucks won a championship in 2021 with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. It is easy to see the argument to keep them together. However, that doesn’t mean that the team can’t win without Khris Middleton. We’ve seen superstars like LeBron James win with a variety of No. 2 options in the past, and it is quite likely that Giannis Antetokounmpo can do the same. Perhaps moving to a younger second option that is locked in long-term could be beneficial for the Milwaukee Bucks.Â
Bradley Beal has made a name for himself as a consistent scorer, and his skill set suggests that he could play well off Giannis Antetokounmpo. Beal is an elite three-level scorer that can toggle between playing on and off the ball, which is extremely valuable when playing with a ball-dominant player like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Acquiring Bradley Beal would definitely help the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense, and he and Jrue Holiday would immediately form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league.
It must be noted that Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract, and he’d have to waive that to move to the Milwaukee Bucks. There are definitely reasons to believe that the Milwaukee Bucks could be an appealing destination for Beal, as he would be joining a stacked squad with an MVP-level player at the helm.
In this deal, the Milwaukee Bucks would have to move Khris Middleton, young prospects MarJon Beauchamp and Jordan Nwora, and their 2029 first-round pick. While obviously, they would sacrifice their future for this deal, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo don’t come around often, and it is imperative that the team maximize him during his prime.
The Washington Wizards Get A Solid Package With Valuable Picks
The Washington Wizards would obviously be in a rebuilding state if they were to trade Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma, and they would likely be looking for a package that involves valuable draft compensation. The Lakers and Bucks’ 2029 first-round picks are almost guaranteed to be in the lottery. Notably, the Los Angeles Lakers are considered to have the most “powerful” trade picks in the market due to their value. This combination of draft picks is likely good enough for the Wizards to trade both Kuzma and Beal.
In this scenario, the Wizards would also receive some solid young prospects from the Milwaukee Bucks. MarJon Beauchamp has already shown signs of being a good defender in his limited minutes, while Jordan Nwora is solid from beyond the arc, shooting 41.3% from the 3PT range. Both players would likely get ample development time on the Wizards, and both could evolve into solid role players in the future.
Russell Westbrook’s expiring contract would be sent from the Los Angeles Lakers, and obviously moving Bradley Beal’s 5-year long-term deal for an expiring contract will help the team from a financial standpoint. The Wizards could potentially end up buying his contract, to make sure their young players get minutes while allowing Russell Westbrook to sign with a contending team.
Overall, this deal gets the Washington Wizards a lot of assets for the future. There is no doubt that this team could potentially help the team start anew, and focus on developing their young prospects to become one of the elite teams of the future.
This Trade Could Help The Lakers And Bucks Win Immediately
This trade could definitely give the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks a better opportunity to win it all in the short term. Both teams would be receiving key players that could help their superstars and would become much better from an offensive standpoint.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards would get some pieces that would let them become younger, and allow them to bottom out to get a top-tier prospect this season while looking toward the future.
It remains to be seen if the three teams here end up coming to an agreement with a similar framework in the future. It will be interesting to see what moves the Lakers, Bucks, and Wizards do ahead of the deadline, and perhaps this will be a move they will consider in the future.
