NBA News: Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks are entering an extremely interesting off-season. Middleton has the option of declining his $40.4 million player option for the 2023-24 season to become an unrestricted free agent, however, many reports indicate that he will be in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future. That foreseeable future would have to include a long-term contract.
Khris Middleton’s Expected Long-Term Contract Is Great News For The Milwaukee Bucks (NBA News)
“NBA executives across the league who spoke with HoopsHype expect the Milwaukee Bucks to retain Khris Middleton this summer,” writes HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto.
“Those executives project Middleton to command a four-year, $130 million contract from Milwaukee should he decline his $40.4 million player option for the upcoming season and enter unrestricted free agency.”
If Middleton were to re-sign with the Bucks for four years and $130 million, his annual salary would be $32.5 million, a slight drop from his current salary. However, due to Middleton’s age (he’ll be 32-years-old at the start of the upcoming season) and recent injury history, it makes sense for both sides to come to an agreement on this type of deal.
The Milwaukee Buck Expect To Keep Khris Middleton And Jrue Holiday Going Forward
In a recent mailbag article on The Athletic, NBA and Milwaukee Bucks insider Eric Nehm was asked about Milwaukee shaking up its roster by trading Middleton or Holiday. His response will deflate those that want to see one or both of them gone:
“Based on the Bucks’ current salary-cap table, I think this is a difficult summer to make a major shakeup with the roster.
“First, the Bucks are title contenders next season. As we discussed here at The Athletic yesterday, the Bucks currently have the third-best odds to win the 2024 NBA title, according to BetMGM. Say what you will about the predictive ability of betting odds, but they aren’t some sort of great departure from reality.
It remains a fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday have never lost a playoff series when they are all healthy. Two seasons ago Khris Middleton went down with a lower body injury that helped the Celtics beat the Bucks in seven games. This past post-season, Giannis went down with an injury and missed multiple games against the Heat. Keeping the “big three” together certainly seems like the best option to keep title hopes alive. The Bucks being able to retain Middleton on in a contract situation that is cheaper than what he is supposed to make in 2023-24 is great news for the team.
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