Ranking Bucks free agents from most to least likely to return next season
By Tyler Watts
8. Khris Middleton
Middleton has a $40.3 million player option for next season that he is widely expected to decline to head into free agency. Can the Bucks re-sign the 31-year-old wing to a reasonable contract over the next four years? That hinges on what fans view as his true value.
Is Middleton the three-time All-Star that averaged over 20 points per game four times in five years? If so, they should reward him with another massive contract that makes him one of the highest-paid wings in the league.
The 31-year-old was not that player this season. His per-36 minutes numbers were in line, but he shot just 31.5 percent from 3-point range and was limited to 33 games because of injury. Can the Bucks count on Middleton to be an All-Star and their second-best player moving forward?
Jake Fischer revealed that he is expected to sign a long-term deal to stay in Milwaukee this summer, which is the smart play by the Bucks. They have no means to acquire an All-Star talent if Khris Middleton walks in free agency. The Bucks have arguably the best player in the world, and they plan on winning the championship next season. To make that a reality, the first step is keeping Middleton and Brook Lopez on their roster.