The Milwaukee Bucks are back in familiar territory-scanning the trade landscape for a spark, and once again, Zach LaVine’s name is floating to the top of the list. The front office is clearly looking to shake things up, and that means Kyle Kuzma, despite a bounce-back season, is firmly in the trade conversation.
Kuzma’s Resurgence-and Trade Value
Let’s start with Kuzma. After a rough postseason to close out the 2024-25 campaign, his stock had dipped hard.
But this year, he’s flipped the narrative. His numbers-13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game-don’t jump off the page, but it’s the efficiency that tells the story.
Shooting 51.5% from the field, he’s making smarter decisions and playing within himself, especially since Doc Rivers moved him to the bench.
That role change has been key. Kuzma looks more comfortable coming off the pine, picking his spots instead of forcing the issue.
Case in point: his 31-point outburst against Boston, where he went 13-of-17 from the field. That’s the version of Kuzma that has teams paying attention-and the Bucks know it.
LaVine: A Tempting but Risky Target
Then there’s LaVine. The Bucks have circled his name more than once over the years, and with the Sacramento Kings struggling, the door could be open again.
LaVine’s averaging 20.2 points on efficient shooting splits-48.7% from the field, 38.5% from three, and nearly 87% from the line. Offensively, he’s still a bucket, and Milwaukee’s interest makes sense, especially when Giannis Antetokounmpo is off the floor and the offense tends to stall.
But it’s not all upside. Defensively, LaVine doesn’t move the needle, and that’s already an area of concern for Milwaukee.
Bringing in another guard who won’t help on that end could make things worse. And then there’s the financial piece-LaVine’s $46.5 million salary is a massive commitment for a team already tight on flexibility.
The Bucks’ Trade Puzzle
Kuzma’s $22.4 million salary is one of the more movable pieces on the Bucks’ roster, but Milwaukee’s trade options are limited. They don’t have a deep well of draft picks to offer, and they’re short on young, high-upside players that could sweeten a deal. That makes it tough to build a compelling package for a player of LaVine’s caliber.
There’s also the Myles Turner situation. The big man hasn’t made the impact the Bucks hoped for when they brought him in, and his name has quietly surfaced in trade rumors.
Still, it’s unlikely he’s moved unless something seismic-like a Giannis trade-happens first. And let’s be clear: that’s not on the table right now.
Giannis at the Center of It All
As always, everything in Milwaukee revolves around Giannis. His future remains the biggest storyline, and any move the Bucks make is ultimately about keeping their two-time MVP happy and competitive. Adding LaVine might boost the offense, but it doesn’t guarantee long-term stability-or a deep playoff run.
What’s clear is that the Bucks are looking for answers. Jon Horst has never been shy about making bold moves, and LaVine is the kind of swing that could energize this team. But it would come at a cost-financially, defensively, and in terms of roster balance.
For now, Kuzma remains the most likely trade chip. He’s playing well enough to attract interest, but not so well that the Bucks wouldn’t part with him in the right deal. Whether that deal includes LaVine remains to be seen, but Milwaukee’s urgency to make something happen is growing louder by the day.