The Milwaukee Bucks had the best regular season record in the NBA. Unfortunately, it was all for naught as the team was defeated by the Miami Heat in five games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. What is most disappointing about this is that the Bucks’ roster was, it seemed, primed for a Finals run. Now they face an offseason that sees several players entering free agency and one, Khris Middleton, who has a $40 million player option for the 2023-24 season. There are already rumors of several teams desiring to pursue Middleton, but Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report argues it would be in his best interest to pick up his option.
Khris Middleton Should Remain with the Milwaukee Bucks
Unfortunately, Middleton’s regular season was limited to just 33 games as he averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. However, he was arguably the Bucks’ best player in their Playoff series loss to the Heat (as Giannis was injured) and averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.
As he displayed then and in the Bucks’ 2021 Finals run, he is vital to their Championship aspirations. The Bucks need him and Buckley argues that he needs them as well:
“Milwaukee has issues, but Middleton isn’t one of them. He is the team’s top shot-creator and second-best scorer. When he’s healthy, he’s at least an average-or-better defender. He has already proved he can win a ring as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s sidekick.
“The Bucks need Middleton back for myriad reasons, not the least of which is that they wouldn’t have the cap space to sign him if he walks.
“Middleton, meanwhile, needs Milwaukee just as much.
“He’ll make a metric ton of money if he stays, either by picking up his $40.4 million player option or negotiating a new deal. And he’ll get paid this massive sum to go championship-chasing with an in-prime, two-time MVP in Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks keep this roster intact, they’ll have a core that won a title in 2021 and led the league in wins this season.
“That’s a great setup, even if things don’t feel great at the moment.”
The fact of the matter is that, when healthy, Middleton is still an All-Star caliber player. He could go to another team, one without the kind of talent around him that he has in Milwaukee, and still put up his usual numbers. However, those teams would not be Championship teams. The fact of the matter is that he plays a prime position, and most contending teams have a star player at that position already. If he wants to make a ton of money and win another title, his best chance to do so is here in Milwaukee.
Hopefully he feels the same way.
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