I know I am gonna hear blazers fan talk about how trash this is. I get it. Kuz has a bad reputation in the league, but he has actually been a solid defender and a good slasher this year. But this trade isn't about the talent, because with all that said Jerami Grant is the better player between them.

This trade is about Cap space flexibility for the blazers without having to give up assets (like the Celtics did). Next year the Blazers have to start paying Shaedon and Camara, while continuing to pay Jrue. They also have good value but sizable deals in Dame Lillard and Deni Advija. Additionally, they have several rotation guys who will be free agents this offseason that are in the rotation including Cissoko, Time lord, Thybulle and Blake Wesley. Now Thybulle is probably gone since he is overpaid for his production, but the other are either going to see stagnant or increased money in their deals due to their performance. ADDITIONALLY, they also have 2 piece that are extension eligible next year, being Scoot Henderson, who WILL get an extension based on value alone, and Kris Murray who I think likely earns a mid tier extension of about 10 mill / year.

So a whole lot of words to say this "The trailblazers gotta pay a whole lotta dudes coming up really quickly and they are only 1.5mill above the tax as of right now". In comes Kuzma, who is 10 mill cheaper already, and is an expiring deal next year that could be traded for assets, to a DIFFERENT cap needy team. All for what, 70% of the player Jerami Grant is? Not a bad deal in my eyes. Cole Anthony is also there because PG depth has been hard with Scoots injury being Ambiguous and Jrue's being older.

As for the bucks side of things, We are kind of Hemmoraging cap space with this deal, but Jerami is a definite upgrade and for SURE what we need. Is it going to make us finals contenders? No but is this possibly one of the only ways we upgrade our roster without giving up the 2031 FRP.

Anyways, dont kill me for this blazers fans, but I actually think it makes sense.