Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton has made significant improvements since the start of the season. He finally seems to have gotten over the hump in terms of his lengthy and very cautious recovery from offseason surgery.
At the same time, however, it’s hard to deny that the three-time All-Star has still failed to consistently reach the same heights he did during the Bucks’ 2021 championship run.
Will Milwaukee Bucks Trade Khris Middleton?
Middleton will be 33 this year, which means that he is now nearing the twilight of his career — if he hasn’t entered it already. This begs the question: will Middleton still be able to recapture his championship form? Or is he now past his prime?
NBA insider Mark Medina points out that Middleton is no longer the same dude he used to be, particularly after his offseason knee procedure. So much so, that Medina believes that the Bucks could consider placing the 6-foot-7 wing on the trade block:
“He’s always been that third option, whether it was with Jrue Holiday in past years, or now with Damian Lillard,” Medina said, via Kerrie Jacobs-Bryant of GIVEMESPORT. “The bigger concern now is, can Khris Middleton still be the player that he once was? He’s coming off of knee surgery, he hasn’t looked the same player since then, and so naturally, there’s going to be questions about whether they [Bucks] dangle him in a trade?”
Middleton signed a big-money extension with the Bucks this summer to the tune of $102 million for three years. He is under contract through 2026, with a player option on the final season of his deal.
If the Bucks decide to make him available via trade, it will be interesting to see what they could get in return for a player of his caliber, considering his current form and the amount of money he is owed.
More importantly, though, the question is if Milwaukee is ready to pull the plug on Middleton. He’s spent all but one season of his 11-year career with the Bucks. He’s also built a strong bond with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will obviously have a say about potentially parting ways with his partner-in-crime.
Then again, that’s what we all thought about Jrue Holiday, right?
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