The Milwaukee Bucks aim to upgrade their roster and maximize the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard partnership.

Since Jon Horst was promoted to general manager in 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks have been aggressive in the trade market, so the team is expected to be busy finding trade partners before next month’s deadline.

The team has been linked to Phoenix Suns’ Bradley Beal, Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, and even Toronto Raptors’ Bruce Brown, but no deal has come to fruition thus far.

Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton have been dangled in trade talks because of the team’s complex salary cap situation. The ideal scenario for the Milwaukee Bucks is for them to get their upgrade while opening up some cap space.

Milwaukee Bucks linked to potential trade to get Kyle Kuzma

ESPN insider Bobby Marks floated the idea of the Milwaukee Bucks trading Khris Middleton and a future first-round pick for Kyle Kuzma, who is reportedly no longer happy in Washington. It is worth noting that Milwaukee is $23 million over the luxury tax and is projected to pay a $75 million penalty.

“The addition of Kuzma gives Milwaukee more length on defense to pair with Antetokounmpo and Lopez in the starting lineup. After back-to-back seasons of over 20 points per game, Kuzma is averaging 14 points and only 28% from 3,” Marks wrote in his column.

“He has two years left on his contract after the season. In this deal, the Bucks would save nearly $22 million this season toward the luxury tax,” he added.