"When Khris Middleton arrived in Washington, the trade seemed to be a bit of a head scratcher for the Wizards. Washington needed to offload Kyle Kuzma, but at the expense of bringing in a 34-year-old on a lucrative contract, the deal almost seemed like general manager Will Dawkins was hanging on to a double edged sword. Fast forward to now, the Milwaukee Bucks and their fanbase could be thinking the same thing considering how poorly Kuzma has looked with his new squad."
"There's no denying that the versatile forward made a name for himself in Milwaukee. Serving as the perfect running mate to Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was healthy, Middleton was a major reason for the Bucks success during their championship run in 2021. Obviously, four years is a long time, especially when it comes to the timeline for NBA veterans when injuries are involved."
"Middleton is a shell of his former self and that's a large reason why the Texas A&M product opted to opt-in to his $34.1 million player option this offseason to stay with the Wizards. Taking what will be his final large payday was a wise decision from Middleton and his camp, and while it may prove difficult for the Wizards to move on from his contract, his presence on the roster could prove beneficial in the long run."
Khris Middleton joined the Washington Wizards in a trade that required moving Kyle Kuzma and taking on Middleton's sizable, age-advanced contract. Middleton has struggled to stay healthy and no longer performs at his Milwaukee peak, where he paired effectively with Giannis Antetokounmpo and helped win the 2021 championship. Middleton opted into a $34.1 million player option to remain with Washington, accepting what will likely be his final large payday. Despite declining production, Middleton offers veteran professionalism and leadership that can accelerate development for young wings like Kyshawn George, Cam Whitmore, Will Riley and Alex Sarr if he remains healthy.
Read at Wiz of Awes
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