With the trade deadline looming, will the Milwaukee Bucks keep Khris Middleton?

Is Khris Middleton still part of the Bucks' future?

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA trade season commenced on Friday, marking the eligibility of players who joined as free agents last summer to be traded. With a quarter of the season already in the books, the Milwaukee Bucks now have a fair idea of what the team looks like. While the pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard has proven to be a success, the return of veteran wingman Khris Middleton from offseason knee surgery has not gone as well.

Middleton has been a reliable contributor to the Bucks during his tenure, injecting much-needed scoring and playmaking into their offense. However, with his newly minted three-year, $95-million contract, many are wondering whether the Bucks will look to trade him this season.

Not the same player he once was

Middleton, 32, has been an integral part of the Bucks for 11 seasons now. He has been woven into the fabric of the team since he was traded to the Bucks in 2013, developing a strong bond with Giannis Antetokounmpo and becoming one of the key players on Milwaukee's championship run in 2021.

However, despite the success he has had in his career thus far, there have been signs that Middleton isn't the same player he once was. After an injury-riddled campaign last season that saw him limited to only 33 games, Middleton has yet to find his form this season and remains on a minutes restriction.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report put it bluntly, saying the 11-year vet isn't the same player he once was.

"The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the most significant moves late in the offseason, bringing in Damian Lillard from the Trail Blazers. While the pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard has helped keep the Bucks among the best in the Eastern Conference, Khris Middleton isn't nearly the same player he was when the team won the title in 2021," Pincus wrote.

Khris Middleton gets to his spot for the fadeaway bucket 🪣pic.twitter.com/n6ygd3JPks

— Bucks Nation (@BucksNationCP) December 6, 2023

Will the Bucks move on from Middleton?

Milwaukee re-signed Middleton to a new contract this summer in the hope that he would provide the team with the same level of scoring and playmaking that helped them capture a championship in 2021. This has hardly been the case 20-something games into the season, which leads to the question: should the Bucks move Khris?

"Is it time for the franchise to make a change? Middleton, 32, re-signed to a three-year $95 million contract (player option in the final season) that may make him difficult to move. That's a heavy price for a player averaging 12.4 points a game," Pincus asserted.

"Instead, Milwaukee may try to keep his minutes down and work on getting Middleton as healthy and productive as possible for the playoffs. A more significant move probably waits until the following offseason."

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