For Milwaukee Bucks fans still keeping tabs on franchise legend Khris Middleton, they’ve watched the three-time All-Star fail to contribute much in the stats column to a bad Washington Wizards team. However, with the chaos that is the NBA trade deadline, Middleton is now on his way out of the nation’s capital and is instead heading to Dallas as part of a package that nets the Wizards none other than Anthony Davis.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/sfrQQubI5i
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
Former Milwaukee Bucks Star Khris Middleton On the Move at the Trade Deadline
Khris Middleton’s departure from Milwaukee at the 2025 trade deadline was a sad day for all Bucks fans. Even those that felt Middleton was past it and that Kyle Kuzma would be a roster upgrade mourned the loss of one of the franchise’s best ever players and a key part of the 2021 NBA Championship squad.
Kuzma has not proved to be a needle-mover for the Bucks. Since then, the Bucks have had a playoff disaster against Indiana and are now embroiled in an increasingly likely Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga. Meanwhile, Middleton has become a starter on a bad Washington Wizards team that is trying to rebuild around talent like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George.
At the 2026 deadline has seen Washington aggressively try to add talent to their young core. While the Wizards not seeing the 34-year-old Middleton as a part of that is not surprising, what is surprising is that Middleton was part of a massive trade package that has resulted in 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis heading to DC.
In addition to Middleton, former Bucks guard AJ Johnson is also on his way to Dallas. The package is completed by Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, two first-round picks, and three second-rounders. Washington acquires Davis along with Dante Exum, D’Angelo Russell, and Jaden Hardy.
Khris Middleton Joining Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks
While the optics for Dallas are not exactly the best, especially given the nature of their own Anthony Davis trade the previous year, the Mavericks will now be moving into next season with the team solely centered around Flagg.
Middleton joins a rebuilding Dallas team that has young talent like Flagg, Max Christie, and Ryan Nembhard, but also veterans like Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and as things currently stand, Kyrie Irving. Some are speculating that Dallas will be shipping Irving out next to acquire draft capital that can help them ascend back to contention in the coming years.
On the last year of his deal, Middleton is making over $33 million this season but is about to hit unrestricted free agency. Almost certainly not part of Dallas’ future plans, Middleton could hit free agency next year or even be bought out this year – if Dallas chooses to eat his salary and let Middleton walk away to join a playoff team. Some Bucks fans will want to see Middleton return to Milwaukee for old time’s sake, but there’s also the opportunity for Middleton to assume the role of a veteran bucket-getter for a postseason-caliber squad elsewhere.
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