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The Milwaukee Bucks could get involved in the Jimmy Butler debacle, though they might not be the ones who get him.
According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, recent intel suggests that their reported primary target right now is Washington Wizards forward and NBA champion Kyle Kuzma.
Granted, Butler is a better player than Kuzma. However, Milwaukee might focus on maintaining financial flexibility while staying younger. To make a trade like this happen, ESPN proposed a blockbuster deal between the Bucks, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and Phoenix Suns.
Suns get: Butler, Josh Richardson
Heat get: Khris Middleton, Richaun Holmes, Ryan Dunn, 2025 first-round pick (via Cleveland)
Wizards get: Bradley Beal, Oso Ighodaro, 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah), 2029 first-round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah), 2031 swap rights with Milwaukee (top-5 protected)
Bucks get: Kuzma, 2025 second-round pick (via Denver)
The key to this deal would be the Wizards. Beal reportedly does not want to be traded, per Fischer, as he doesn’t want to uproot his family again not too long after Phoenix acquired him back in 2023.
The one appeal to this trade from his end is that he would return to familiar territory, so his family might not be too opposed to him landing where he played before. The Wizards would also have to comply with this deal. Washington might not do that because even if Beal isn’t worth the $251 million contract he’s signed, he’s still a good player.
Beal could potentially improve the team’s floor more than Kuzma would, which might not be a great idea, considering they’re looking to have the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. However, getting a few first-round assets for their troubles might be worth it.
The reality is for this blockbuster trade to take place the plethora of moving parts must all align.
MORE BUCKS NEWS: Bucks could land $146 million All-Star to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo in 3-team blockbuster trade