Middleton plus draft capital for Kuzma has been flying around, as well as the Lakers making a move for a "big"; this would safely guide them through.

Bucks send out Middleton, Portis, the 2nd they have available to trade, and 2 of their young players (Jackson and Smith). In return, they get Kuzma, Gabe Vincent, 2 minimum (but possibly playable) players in Wood & Baldwin. Lakers throw in the right for MIL to swap their pick (lower of MIL or NO) with theirs next year. They lose 2 young players, but duck the 2nd apron / reduce tax by over 7 million, and (due to Kuzma's declining contract) carry Kuzma + Vincent for $35 million next year where Middleton's option is $34 on it's own.

Washington sends out Baldwin and Kuzma. In return for absorbing the Middleton contract, they get Knecht (1st round grade) and 2 2nds. Middleton becomes an expiring next year, and more room is opened for Bilal / Sarr with Knecht developing with Bub in the backcourt.

LAL sends out the swap, a 2025 2nd, Gabe Vincent, Knecht, and Christian Wood. In return, they get Portis (not a true C, but a tough PF/C that can shoot 3's and play defense; you could probably get away with a Portis-DFS-Vando rotation defensively at the 4/5 against most teams), Jackson Jr., and Tyler Smith (who looks like he might become a legit 4/5 wth the right coaching). They also drop 2.2 mil against the cap this year, which would reduce tax or could also be used in a trade (for example, flipping Jackson's 1.8 to PHI for Andre Drummond's 5 mil. would be acceptable if this built out more), aand keep the '26 books clean.