Bucks' Kyle Kuzma Calls Out Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumor
With a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade drawing closer, reports have suggested that it’s down to either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat landing the NBA superstar in a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Celtics’ trade hinges on Boston including five-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown in the deal, as he would become the new star of the Bucks. However, the Miami Heat’s situation is a bit different, as they wouldn’t necessarily be sending a player of Brown’s star caliber.
On Sunday, an X account shared the latest from podcaster and NBA insider Bill Simmons, who spoke about the trade rumors this weekend. According to Simmons, he believed any trade for Giannis would likely include Kyle Kuzma as a “Giannis tax.”
He spoke about the potential deals involving either the Celtics sending Brown to the Bucks or the Heat sending Tyler Herro to Milwaukee. Simmons said he becomes suspicious about any of the three-team or four-team rumors floating around, but there still might need to be more included in a deal.
"The other piece is, I think Kuzma is the Giannis tax for this trade for whoever gets him, and I haven't seen that really anywhere in a real way, but for Miami, it would have to be Aaron Wiggins being in the trade and then Kuzma going to Miami. He's an expiring deal. I think they just wanna move off him,” he explained on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”
More news:Jaylen Brown Puts Critics on Notice Amid Celtics Trade Rumors
Kuzma may have taken exception to being described as simply a “Giannis tax” to make a deal work. On Monday, he fired off a message reacting to another X account’s tweet, seeming to laugh off what was said about him by Simmons for the potential trade.
“Since when is a 6’9 wing who plays any role you ask, guards 1-5, shot almost 50% from the field and cares about a defense a ‘throw-in’? lol,” he wrote on his X.
Kuzma joined Milwaukee via mid-season trade last year and has appeared in 102 games since then. He averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 26.2 minutes per game last season.
He also brings a bit of playoff experience to whichever team he joins, having appeared in last year’s playoffs with Milwaukee, and gone to two postseasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and won a championship in 2020.
Kuzma’s also been a player on the verge of becoming an NBA All-Star, particularly when he played for the Washington Wizards several seasons ago, averaging a career-high 22.2 points and 4.2 assists per game.
Previous rumors suggested that a third team might be included in any Giannis trade, but ESPN reported on Monday that doesn’t appear to be the case now for the Celtics or Heat deals.
In addition, the outlet reported that a deal is expected to happen before the NBA Draft on Tuesday night, which could be the big news dominating a night meant for the league’s next potential stars or superstars.
More news:Former Mavericks Coach Suggests NBA Draft Trade to Get ‘Next Jalen Brunson'
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 5:33 PM.