Bucks’ Khris Middleton has torn hamstring, out six months

Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton will have surgery for a torn hamstring and miss approximately six months.

Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton will have surgery after tearing his hamstring and miss approximately six months, the team announced.

Shams Charania of The Vertical first reported the news.

Middleton, 25, averaged a career-high 18.2 points and 4.2 assists last season to go with 3.8 rebounds per game. He shot nearly 40% from three point range and logged 36 minutes per game for the Bucks, who will begin the season a step behind without his presence on the wing.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Khris and our team, but injuries are an unfortunate part of the game,” said general manager John Hammond in a statement. “We’ll rely on our overall roster depth to help us while Khris is out for a significant period of the season.”

To replace Middleton, the Bucks have agreed to trade Tyler Ennis to the Houston Rockets for Michael Beasley, the Rockets announced. The deal was reportedly in talks before Middleton's injury, according to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Bucks are aiming to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2015-16 showing, with forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker rounding out a promising young core of players. 

It is unclear how much time he will miss. The going could be tough for the Bucks in what should be a competitive central division, with a somewhat untested backcourt and no clear solution at off guard. Rookie Malcolm Brogdon and second-year man Rashad Vaughn could be in line for added minutes, as well as 39-year-old Jason Terry. Free agent addition Matthew Dellavedova could also be a solution in smaller lineups.

Middleton came it at No. 39 on SI’s Top 100 players list.

- Jeremy Woo