As the buyout season approaches, Khris Middleton's future is one that is being monitored heavily around the league. Middleton, an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks and a smooth-shooting wing, could emerge as one of the biggest buyout candidates on the market if he chooses to pursue a buyout.
Middleton was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at the NBA trade deadline. Since the trade, Middleton has suited up for the Mavericks, playing in four games, and even had a 25-point outing for the Mavericks on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. But his name is still being discussed as a buyout candidate.
"Is there any chance we can convince Khris Middleton to buy?".@TheSteinLine I wonder if the Pistons could be a landing spot for the Mavericks small forward @talkhoops
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According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks have allowed Middleton to control his own destiny, determining whether he wants to stay with the team for the remainder of the season or seek a buyout to join a contender. This has led Steen to openly consider whether Middleton could be a candidate to join the surging Pistons, who are on top of the Eastern Conference.
"I have to think. There are a handful of contending, playoff-bound teams, and I have to think the Pistons are among them. Wondering, is there a chance we can convince Khris Middleton for a buyout? What I reported last night was basically the Mavericks putting the ball in Khris Middleton's court. If Khris Middleton wants a buyout to join a playoff-bound team, Dallas Will gladly cooperate."
The Pistons would be an interesting landing spot for Middleton. Only a few years ago, he was the number two option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks and often found himself taking clutch shots in close game situations. But due to injuries as well as his contract, the Bucks "expired" his time with the organization by trading him to the Wizards in a deal that also included Kyle Kuzma.
Khris Middleton is still proving to be an effective player, averaging 14 points per game and 35% from three in 5 games played with the Mavericks. With the Wizards, his numbers were more modest during the 34 games he played with the team, as he averaged $10.3 points per game and shot 33% from the field. Perhaps a reunion with the Pistons could bode well for Middleton. He was drafted in the second round with the 39th pick by the Pistons in 2012 and was eventually traded to the Bucks in 2013.
The Pistons have emerged as a contender, adopting their old-school physicality and rapid development as players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have emerged as young stars in the league; However, the team lacks consistent shooting on volume. In Monday's loss to San Antonio, the Pistons made only 7 of their 36 three-point attempts, while the Spurs made 18. Middleton could provide a nice spark in playmaking and shooting for the Pistons as they look to further seize control of the Eastern Conference and make a run at the NBA Finals.
The Pistons will play the Thunder tonight at 7:30 Eastern. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
