Milwaukee Bucks fans discovered that Khris Middleton was being traded to the Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. There’s now an update to the deal, with additional pieces included—specifically, the Knicks’ top star.
This isn’t a flashy move by any means, but key star adds the center depth and vertical threat the Bucks have been lacking. Wright wasn’t contributing much beyond sitting on the bench, though it’s possible Sims won’t offer much more. How Doc Rivers utilizes him is still uncertain. More interestingly, his arrival raises the question of whether the team acquired him as insurance to potentially trade Bobby Portis or Brook Lopez before the 3 PM deadline on February 6.
Does Jericho Sims Trade Indicate Anything Further About Milwaukee Bucks’ Deadline Plans?
If GM Jon Horst does end up trading Portis or Lopez for a bigger piece—though what that might be remains unclear—he’d still need to acquire a big man in return, either as part of that deal or through another move. Sims provides depth in case the return doesn’t match the impact of either Portis or Lopez.
Standing at 6’10”, Sims is essentially a serviceable body, someone who can fill in at center if injuries strike. Just recently, in Monday’s game against the Thunder, Doc Rivers had to play 6’6” Chris Livingston at the five due to a lack of options.
While Sims has played in 39 games for the Knicks this season, he’s averaging just 10.8 minutes and 1.6 points per game. He’s never been more than a fringe backup, and these numbers are career lows for the fourth-year Minnesota native. While the deal isn’t particularly exciting, fans reacting to Charania’s tweet seemed to agree that Milwaukee came out on top. So, for whatever it’s worth, there’s that.
“League Shaking Move”
While many fans agreed that Milwaukee won the deal, plenty of commenters were more focused on poking fun at the trade, especially after a whirlwind of blockbuster moves and intense rumors in recent days. Stars like Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, and Jimmy Butler have all been traded, and even the Middleton-Kuzma deal might turn out to be more significant than it appears.
Then there are moves like this, which fans had a field day with:
“THIS THE BIGGEST TRADE THIS SEASON OMG”
“Mind-blowing maneuver”
“The trade that will break the internet”
“Who is that?” joked one commenter—or maybe they weren’t joking.
One user predicted that Portis will be gone by tomorrow, and honestly, it wouldn’t be all that surprising. If that ends up being the last time Bucks fans see him in green and white, it was a solid way for Bobby to go out—especially after missing six games due to personal reasons, with his performance on Wednesday night against Charlotte.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo a late scratch due to left calf soreness, Portis stepped up, tallying 23 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the 112-102 win. While the 12-36 Hornets are struggling this season, having Portis back was a welcome sight. His absence had coincided with Milwaukee’s 1-5 slide, where the team’s lack of size and depth played a significant role.
If Horst does decide to trade Portis, he’ll certainly need to secure a better replacement than Sims.
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