Predicting where each Milwaukee Bucks’ free agent will play in 2023-24
By Dalton Sell
Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
Like Brook Lopez, retaining Khris Middleton will be atop the Milwaukee Bucks’ to-do list over the next few months. The three-time All-Star has a player option worth $40.4 million for next season, which he will likely decline to seek a new deal in free agency. While plenty of teams will likely look to lure the forward away from Milwaukee, the Bucks will likely ink him to do a brand new deal if he does indeed opt-out.
Keeping Middleton is Milwaukee’s best bet. Although he was hindered by injuries this past season, mainly in his knee, he recently underwent a procedure to clean up the issue. A healthy Middleton is still a lethal three-level scorer who fits seamlessly alongside Milwaukee’s other core pieces. It may not make much sense to let a player like that walk, especially as the team’s limited wiggle room in trades and free agency would make it extremely difficult to find a replacement.
Similarly to Lopez, it would be very difficult to imagine Middleton suiting up in a different uniform at this point in his career. At 31 years old, Middleton has plenty of good years left to give, and let’s hope this recent knee procedure helps him get himself right to prove it.