The Milwaukee Bucks made a significant roster adjustment just before the trade deadline, executing a deal that sent longtime forward Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma.
While the move provided some financial flexibility and helped the team slip below the restrictive second apron, Bucks co-owner Wes Edens was clear that financial motives were not the driving force behind the decision.
“The moves we made at the deadline were basketball moves,” Edens emphasized. “And the financial was a part of it, in the consideration of the second apron, but I think that (general manager) Jon Horst and his organization did and recommended what they thought would be best for the basketball team and I think that they did a great job.”
By bringing in Kuzma, the Bucks acquired a younger, versatile forward who can contribute both offensively and defensively.
However, speculation arose that the organization may have been primarily focused on avoiding the severe financial penalties associated with the second apron under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Edens was quick to dispel that notion, rejecting the idea that ownership mandated a cost-cutting measure.
“No. No. Not at all. None of that,” Edens said definitively when asked if there was a directive to move below the second apron.
He acknowledged that financial constraints are a new challenge for NBA front offices under the current CBA, which not only imposes monetary penalties but also limits teams’ flexibility in roster construction.
“For the first time, they’ve included both financial penalties and sporting penalties and so you do not want to be in the second apron if you can avoid it,” Edens explained. “We have come out of our pockets to put the best team we can on the field and spent a lot of money doing so and have a championship to show for it and a lot of wins. But we always want more.”
This sentiment reinforces the Bucks’ commitment to remaining competitive despite the evolving financial landscape in the NBA.
While the new rules make navigating the salary cap more challenging, Edens and the Bucks ownership remain dedicated to fielding a championship-caliber team, regardless of the financial hurdles.
Wes Edens: Bucks Made Basketball Moves; No Second Apron Mandate https://t.co/EZkVRsdSLb
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 2, 2025
