Khris Middleton was traded to the Dallas Mavericks merely as salary filler, although he has quickly cemented himself as a key cog in their future success.
Things might be dire for the Dallas Mavericks now, but there's good reason to believe that the franchise will quickly turn things around.
Not even an entire season after the Luka Doncic trade went down, the Mavericks have found themselves in the NBA Draft lottery twice in a row. They owe their 2017 selection to the Charlotte Hornets, so there's little reason for them to tank next season.
Behind Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Daniel Gafford, and PJ Washington, the team has a decent core. Add in the return of Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, plus the addition of a top player in the 2026 Draft, and things should be looking up.
One of their key veterans understands the direction the team is heading in, and he wants to be a part of it.
Khris Middleton Outlines Dallas Future
When the Washington Wizards tossed in Khris Middleton in the deal that saw them land Anthony Davis from the Mavericks, it was clear that the veteran was simply included in the trade to match salaries.
As Dallas continued to struggle, the team offered him a buyout, allowing him to join a contending team. He refused, instead opting to finish the season--and his current contract--with the Mavs.
In 19 games so far with Dallas, he is averaging 11.7 points, remains an efficient scorer, and does a bit of everything. He has quickly established himself as one of Cooper Flagg's best teammates.
In 135 minutes, the Flagg/Middleton duo has been outscored by only three points and boasts a net rating of -2.2, which is solid, especially compared to Dallas' overall net rating of -5.0.
Middleton sees how he fits in with the Mavs, and he wants to stay, as evidenced by his refusal to be bought out.
"I’ve been here before,” Middleton told Dallas Hoops Journal's Grant Afseth. “I’m familiar with Dallas, I love the area. As far as the organization, it’s been great. I stayed here for a reason. I like where things are headed here. I like the way they’re trying to do things here, so we’ll see what happens.”
While Middleton won't command $30 million on the open market, he still brings value as a veteran and has stepped up while Irving remains out.