NBA Rumors: The player Milwaukee Bucks want to replace Kyle Kuzma with

As the NBA Finals approach a possible conclusion with the sixth game scheduled for Thursday night, Zach Kram of ESPN has proposed a potential trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets centered around forward Cam Johnson. The deal is seen as a move to strengthen the Bucks' supporting cast around the franchise cornerstone, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The trade suggested by ESPN would have the Bucks receiving Cam Johnson and the Nets getting Kyle Kuzma, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2032 first-round pick swap. The suggested trade would provide the Bucks with a sharpshooting forward in Johnson, while the Nets would take on Kuzma's contract and add two valuable future draft assets tied to Milwaukee's long-term prospects.

Johnson, 29, is coming off his best season yet, averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 47.5% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. He played 31.6 minutes per game in 57 appearances in his seventh NBA season. Johnson is entering the third year of a four-year, $94.5 million contract, set to earn $21 million in 2025-26 and $23 million in the final year of the deal.

Milwaukee would acquire a versatile forward with a proven outside shooting and spacing ability, a skill set that complements Antetokounmpo's inside style. Johnson's ability to stretch defenses could give the Bucks more options in the half-court and help open the floor for their All-NBA forward.

Kyle Kuzma, also 29, would move to Brooklyn after splitting the 2024-25 season between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks. In 65 games, Kuzma averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 43.6% from the field and 30.7% from three-point range. He is under contract until the 2026-27 season, set to earn $23 million next year before receiving $20.9 million in his final year.

Kram's Perspective

According to Kram, the trade could be appealing for the Nets despite the relatively modest performance for a player deemed a highly coveted asset across the league. "It's a fairly scarce return to swap Johnson, a coveted target league-wide, for Kuzma's contract," Kram wrote. "But the Bucks' unprotected 2031 and 2032 picks could be so alluring that Brooklyn might lean towards them."

Kram also noted that Antetokounmpo will be nearing the end of his prime by the time those draft picks come into play, making the assets potentially valuable in a rebuild or future trade scenario. "The Nets might also value holding onto some of Milwaukee's draft capital for a future scenario where they try to trade for Antetokounmpo and can offer the Bucks their picks in exchange," Kram added.

Though speculative, the trade reflects a broader debate around Milwaukee's efforts to restructure its roster around Antetokounmpo, especially following the Bucks' early playoff exit. Given the uncertainty surrounding Damian Lillard's recovery timeline and the need for a more consistent forward, a deal for Johnson could be a way to bolster the roster for the 2025-26 season.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: El jugador con el que Milwaukee Bucks quiere reemplazar a Kyle Kuzma