Bucks general manager Jon Horst said trading franchise cornerstone Khris Middleton after 12 seasons in Milwaukee was "the hardest transaction" he has made as an executive, but did so to "maximize the window" for a championship.

GM Jon Horst explained why his deadline moves, especially parting with a franchise staple, give Milwaukee a better chance to win a title.

Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst said trading Khris Middleton was the toughest decision of his career because of everything the three-time All-Star had done for the franchise. “I’m incredibly close with Khris personally,

Kyle Kuzma is headed to the Bucks in a 4-team swap that sends veteran sharpshooter Khris Middleton to Washington.

The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to gamble with their roster a bit and hope for the best. They’re parting ways with Khris Middleton in an attempt to upgrade the roster with more stability. Milwaukee is sending Middleton,

The Milwaukee Bucks community expected to end this week wrestling with the the end of Khris Middleton’s time in cream and green. In the weeks preceding the trade deadline, Middleton was transitioned to a bench role where he showed some promise before the wheels fell off again last week in a pair of scoreless performances.

Now, they have made their move. The Bucks have traded Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, and a pick swap to the Washington Wizards in return for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and a second-round pick according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Milwaukee Bucks made a big trade Wednesday, and by Thursday, many national writers had weighed in on the wisdom of the deal.