In one of the more bizarre moves of the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks have traded Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma. This trade has left many basketball fans confused, questioning the fit of Kuzma in Milwaukee.
Despite not directly being involved in the trade, Indiana Pacers fans should be happy this deal took place. It may not seem like a big deal for the Pacers right now, but this trade has a good chance of helping the team out in the long run.
The Pacers benefit from the Middleton-Kuzma swap
Despite not being the same player he was a few years ago, Middleton is still a solid player. He remains a top 3-and-D player and is still extremely reliable. Additionally, he has played really good basketball lately, scoring over 20 points in three of his last four games. While Kuzma might provide a scoring boost for the Bucks, there is a good chance this trade will backfire.
Furthermore, Middleton has established a reputation as a playoff hero. This was especially evident for Pacers fans last year when he averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in place of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Having him off the team should, in theory, make them less of a threat in the playoffs, which is perfect for the Pacers.
There is still a lot of basketball left to be played this season. However, if the season were to end today, the Pacers and Bucks would once again meet each other in the first round of the playoffs as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively.
The Pacers match up very well against this Bucks team. Their fast-paced offense and improved defense will make it difficult for any team in the East to go head-to-head against them in the playoffs. This is especially true against the Bucks, who many believe have downgraded. And with Middleton now likely remaining in Washington for the time being, it is highly unlikely the Pacers will match up with him in the postseason.
Despite a slow start to their season, the Pacers have drastically turned things around over the past couple of months. Even after their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Pacers remain one of the hottest teams in the league. It seems unlikely they make any notable move ahead of the trade deadline. Regardless, with the team they have on paper, they are still in a good spot to prove themselves as legitimate threats once again.