5 Milwaukee Bucks who could earn a raise in 2025 NBA Free Agency

Khris Middleton

When he was a free agent last offseason, Khris Middleton took one for the team and re-signed with the Bucks on a team-friendly deal worth $93 million over three years. He could have asked for more but decided to sign a shorter deal to not only help Milwaukee financially but for him to also keep his options open down the line.

After this season, Middleton has a player option worth $34 million for 2025-26. Having just turned 33, there's a good chance he declines that to seek a multi-year deal to earn more financial security, even if it's another deal on the team-friendly side. If he plays his part this coming season, the Bucks would likely be more than happy to hand him a raise next free agency.

For Middleton to earn himself a lucrative new contract, he'll first have to stay healthy. It's been a huge roadblock for him over the past few seasons, keeping him off the floor quite a bit since he helped the Bucks hoist the Larry O'Brien over three years ago. After undergoing offseason surgery on both of his ankles, the hope is that Khris Middleton can stay healthy for another championship run.

Middleton showed in the playoffs that he still has plenty of juice. In six games against the Pacers, he averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. With Giannis Antetokounmpo on the sidelines, Damian Lillard banged up and even Middleton himself dealing with an injury, the forward tried to put the team on his back, and it was a marvelous individual showing.

If Khris Middleton can stay healthy and be that player, a raise could inevitably be in his future.

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