Summer focus and final grade
Coming off his sterling postseason series, an extra layer of attention now surrounds Middleton in the eyes of Bucks fans.
That’s mostly due to the fact that Middleton could be entering the final year of his current deal, considering he holds a $13 million player option for the 2019-20 season. A versatile, do-it-all type wing, one who’s just entering the prime of his career, Middleton will be set to deal with a much different style of free agency compared to when he last hit the market back in the summer of 2015, whenever he chooses to.
But as he relayed in an interview with Michael Scotto of The Athletic earlier this week, Middleton is already downplaying questions about his contract and his future in Milwaukee:
"“Right now I’m just going to play out my contract,” Middleton said when asked about his future. “I’m not going to put any pressure on myself or think about opportunities that could come up sooner. The way I got to where I am today is taking one day at a time and focusing on my game. Everything will take care of itself once you win also with that. That’s all I’m really worried about. “It’s great. The fans love us. We get love all over the city, which is great. During the playoffs, it was one of the hardest places to play in. It was loud. Fans were intense. To be a Milwaukee Buck, it’s a great feeling. It’s a unique feeling. It’s a small-city market, but when you live there and you play there every night you realize how much you mean to that city and how much you can do to impact people’s lives around there.”"
As the speculation around his possible free agent status next summer rises, the Bucks have already done their part to get out in front and affirm how much they value Middleton in the long-term.
That can be seen by the fact the team’s front office and ownership brought Middleton and Antetokounmpo in to meet with new Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer for breakfast the same day that both parties closed the deal to bring the former Atlanta Hawks head coach to Milwaukee.
Again, from that same interview with Scotto, here’s what Middleton had to say about being brought into the final stages of that process:
"“It’s a great honor,” Middleton said of being a part of the breakfast. “The front office and the owners, they have a lot of confidence in me. They want me to be there long-term. They brought it to my attention that they wanted me to be a part of the process. That’s a huge thing for me. It makes me feel comfortable. It makes me want to be there longer.”"
Whether something like that will truly play a factor whenever Middleton decides to hit the market is yet to be seen. However, Middleton hasn’t hidden the fact he is very content being in the city of Milwaukee, which fits in with his low profile and overall mindset.
While this is only the start of this discussion, Middleton could change the gravity of his decision, depending on how well he performs on the court next season. With a big payday in store, Middleton will surely want to avoid taking a step back at all costs.
BTBP Final Grade: B+
Next: Milwaukee Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Xavier Munford
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