Dallas Mavericks are eyeing Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Khris Middleton

Following a horrific playoff collapse as the NBA’s top seed, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding Khris Middleton’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Middleton has a player option worth $40.4 million for 2023-24, and there is no telling whether or not he will accept it or test the open market. If he goes with the ladder, Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer has already reported that the Houston Rockets will potentially inquire about him. Another team in Texas reportedly has Middleton on their radar, as The Athletic’s Tim Cato (Subscription required) says that the three-time All-Star has been floated as a possible Dallas Mavericks’ target.

Dallas Mavericks are eyeing Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Khris Middleton

This news isn’t overly surprising, as the Mavericks are facing a crucial off-season. ESPN insider Tim MacMahon recently wrote an article detailing how there is some fear that franchise leader Luka Doncic could request a trade next summer if things do not change in Dallas. The Mavericks are going to do what it takes to try and keep him happy, which starts with adding more stars to the roster. Middleton fits the billing in that regard, as he would fit nicely alongside Dallas’ stars.

Middleton has ties to the Texas area, as he went to school at Texas A&M, so it is interesting to see two teams from that area express initial interest.

Ultimately, if Middleton does opt out of his player option, the Bucks cannot let him walk away for nothing, as that would cause a financial disaster for them. A sign and trade could make sense for them if Middleton is ready to move on, but there are questions as to what the Bucks could get in return from a team like Dallas. The likeliest avenue is that the Bucks end up re-signing Middleton to a new long-term deal, but things could change in the blink of an eye.

More teams are bound to join the Middleton rumor mill in the coming weeks and months as the forward’s future in Milwaukee remains up in the air. This off-season will be a fascinating one for the Bucks, as there are plenty of big decisions on the horizon.

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