When the NBA free agency period starts at midnight eastern time on July 1, the Indiana Pacers will have their eyes on Milwaukee Bucks small forward Khris Middleton, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Khris Middleton has a player option worth $13,000,000 for next season, but he will likely decline that since he can make more money on the open market. By all accounts, the Bucks and Middleton will try and agree to a long-term deal, but that's not going to stop the Pacers from trying to steal him away from Milwaukee.

Who is Indiana signing in free agency that is better than Conley? (One potential answer, sources say: Middleton. But luring a good player away from a contending team like the Bucks is really hard unless Milwaukee gets too cute in negotiations with Middleton.)

Khris Middleton made the All-Star team this season for the first time in his career. The versatile swingman is averaging 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 84.3 percent from the free-throw line.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton with the Bucks arena in the background, NBA Playoffs injury Pacers

David Yapkowitz ·

Damian Lillard and Stephen A. Smith

Benedetto Vitale ·

Giannis Antetokounmpo saying "Who knows?" next to Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard

Brett Siegel ·

Middleton is a great defender and consistent shooter for the Bucks. He's the perfect sidekick to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are 37-13 on the season, good for first place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Assuming Victor Oladipo comes back healthy next season, the Pacers — if they can get a free agent meeting with Middleton — will pitch him on the idea of a Oladipo-Myles Turner-Middleton trio.