The 2025 offseason has been full of team activity and player movement. In just the first few days of free agency, we saw many players make decisions that could impact the NBA hierarchy for years to come. Of course, the summer isn’t over yet, and the latest rumblings out of Milwaukee claim that the Bucks may be on to something big.
“If the Raptors are motivated to trade RJ Barrett this offseason, keep an eye on Milwaukee as a potential landing spot,” wrote Jake Weinback on X. “While there have been murmurs of Toronto shopping Barrett over the last month or so, the Bucks would value more athleticism, versatility, and burst on the wing.”
The Bucks struggled last season with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. In response, they’ve reset their roster over the summer by waiving and stretching Lillard to make room for Myles Turner. The deal gave the Bucks some hope to compete in 2026, but they need more in order to hold up against teams like the Cavaliers and Knicks next season.
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors Receive: Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr., 2026 first-round pick (swap with Hawks)
For the Raptors, the deal essentially helps them save some money as they continue their rebuild around Scottie Barnes. While the first-round pick is unlikely to convey (Hawks hold rights to swap), it would still make a nice prize for Barrett, whose trade value has increased in recent years.
The 25-year-old swingman is a solid athlete and strong two-way player, but he struggles with his shot and can struggle to stay consistent on the court. At least with Kuzma, the Raptors can get someone cheaper at the position who can also stretch the floor. Andre Jackson Jr. makes a nice bonus in the deal, even if his role would be limited in the rotation.
For the Bucks, this deal offers the chance to further enhance the roster for a championship run. While Kuzma provides a nice offensive boost, he’s more of a power forward than a small forward who likes to play from the outside in. Barrett would be a better fit next to Giannis in the frontcourt, and he’d be able to take on a bigger role for the Bucks with averages of 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game last season.
At 30 years old, time is critical for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he wants to spend the rest of his prime competing for a championship. After this year’s first-round exit, the Bucks knew they had to make some changes, and now they’ve proven that they are willing to do whatever it takes to appease their franchise star.
It remains to be seen if they can secure Barrett, but with Giannis and Myles Turner on the team, they are poised to be a major threat in the East next season. As for the Raptors, they will be much further down the standings, but that’s okay for a team still early in the rebuild process. The best thing they could do now is accumulate talent whenever possible and look to add draft picks, like the Bucks’ potential first-rounder in 2026.
