After a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks head into the offseason with a lot of questions. The thing is, getting Khris Middleton to play better is one of the team’s primary needs for next season.
Middleton first entered the NBA as the Detroit Pistons’ 39th pick in the 2012 Draft. Much like most rookies in the league, 6’7″ forward didn’t get a lot of minutes on the floor, leading to a mediocre first year as a pro.
Middleton’s fate would take a turn for the better when Detroit traded him, Brandon Knight, and Viacheslav Kravtsov to the Bucks to get Brandon Jennings. From there, his career would pick up the pace as he was given more minutes and opportunities to score.
Over the years, Middleton would form a one-two punch with All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Joined by Jrue Holiday in 2021, the trio helped Milwaukee win a championship over a Phoenix Suns team led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
That version of the Bucks is non-existent now as the front office swapped Holiday with point guard Damian Lillard to address their shot creation in needs. However, that move still wasn’t enough to deliver another ring as Milwaukee was eliminated by Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers in the first round recently. This elimination ended their season earlier than expected, leading the front office to assess their needs in the offseason.
NBA Analyst Says Milwaukee Bucks Needs Playoff Khris Middleton and a Deeper Bench in 2024-25 Season
Although the Bucks are caught between a rock and a hard place in the offseason thanks to the lack of assets they can use to improve the lineup, there are other needs the front office have to address. In an analysis by Bobby Marks for ESPN:
“The playoff version of Middleton and bench depth. Middleton averaged a playoff-career-high 26.2 points but played in only 55 regular-season games, averaging 27.2 minutes and 15 points,” Marks wrote.
Getting Middleton to play like he was in the playoffs will definitely go a long way in helping Milwaukee win and preserving Antetokounmpo’s prime at the same time. Having a deeper bench filled with talented role players is another factor that can help the team contend for a another ring next season.
It remains to be seen what moves Milwaukee will make in the coming months. Nevertheless, the front office will have to think outside the box if they want to address these needs as soon as possible.
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