Subscribe
Follow Us
Are the Milwaukee Bucks already having buyers remorse on the max contract they gave small forward Khris Middleton? It's possible.
According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, the Bucks reportedly have doubts whether Middleton can be the second-best player on a championship team. Milwaukee re-signed the swingman to a lucrative five-year, $178 million contract.
Article Continues Below
While Middleton made the Eastern Conference All-Star team last season, he did not receive a single vote for any of the three All-NBA teams, and there are questions about whether he can be the second-best player on a championship-caliber team—which is what his salary now demands. The Bucks, a league source says, had that same doubt. They contemplated not offering Middleton the full max in hopes of also retaining restricted free agent Malcolm Brogdon, who, despite battling injuries, was arguably a more effective playoff performer. Brogdon wound up with a four-year, $85 million contract and going to the Indiana Pacers in a sign-and-trade.
This past season, Khris Middleton averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 83.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Bucks are going to be paying Middleton roughly $30 million in 2019-20. If you're making that much money, you have to be able to average close to 25 points per game.
Milwaukee is going to go as far as MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo can take them. However, Middleton is going to have to take his game to another level with his new contract.
