“The Contract: Three years, $93 million (player option in 2025-26)
Middleton’s 2022-23 season was marred by injuries (recovery from wrist surgery and a right knee ailment that sent him back under the knife in June), and while he finally rounded into form in the playoffs, you wonder if the 32-year-old will keep having trouble ducking the injury bug.
The Bucks are paying him to be a championship-caliber co-star, and he could have trouble maintaining that level over the life of this contract.
The Trade: Middleton, Grayson Allen, MarJon Beauchamp and a 2029 first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine
Entering the offseason, Milwaukee’s primary objective seemed to be talent retention. The Bucks avoided any costly departures and wound up bringing back Middleton and Brook Lopez (and, somewhat surprisingly, Jae Crowder, too).
However, they may have just learned that status quo won’t cut it any longer, as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won’t sign an extension now but could next summer, might need to see more from this front office to tie his future to the franchise.
“I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do,” he told Tania Ganguli of The New York Times. “And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
Trading Middleton (and much of its remaining assets) for LaVine would allow Milwaukee to get younger and more dynamic on the offensive end.
LaVine, 28, has had his own knee trouble in the past, but if that’s behind him, he could add electric scoring, ignitable shot-making and secondary distributing to this attack. Milwaukee could provide him with the kind of defensive protection he’s never had in his career.”
Dischucker
I probably still wouldn’t do it, but I’ve definitely seen worse suggestions.
DJ_B0B
This isn’t actually that bad though. But I just don’t think we ever trade Khris because of loyalty.
3 Comments
“The Contract: Three years, $93 million (player option in 2025-26)
Middleton’s 2022-23 season was marred by injuries (recovery from wrist surgery and a right knee ailment that sent him back under the knife in June), and while he finally rounded into form in the playoffs, you wonder if the 32-year-old will keep having trouble ducking the injury bug.
The Bucks are paying him to be a championship-caliber co-star, and he could have trouble maintaining that level over the life of this contract.
The Trade: Middleton, Grayson Allen, MarJon Beauchamp and a 2029 first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine
Entering the offseason, Milwaukee’s primary objective seemed to be talent retention. The Bucks avoided any costly departures and wound up bringing back Middleton and Brook Lopez (and, somewhat surprisingly, Jae Crowder, too).
However, they may have just learned that status quo won’t cut it any longer, as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won’t sign an extension now but could next summer, might need to see more from this front office to tie his future to the franchise.
“I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do,” he told Tania Ganguli of The New York Times. “And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
Trading Middleton (and much of its remaining assets) for LaVine would allow Milwaukee to get younger and more dynamic on the offensive end.
LaVine, 28, has had his own knee trouble in the past, but if that’s behind him, he could add electric scoring, ignitable shot-making and secondary distributing to this attack. Milwaukee could provide him with the kind of defensive protection he’s never had in his career.”
I probably still wouldn’t do it, but I’ve definitely seen worse suggestions.
This isn’t actually that bad though. But I just don’t think we ever trade Khris because of loyalty.