Bucks Prove They're Beyond Desperate Giving Khris Middleton $178 Million Deal
By Ryan Flores
The Milwaukee Bucks just grossly overpaid for Khris Middleton.
On Sunday, ESPN analyst Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the All-Star wing will re-sign with the Bucks for an absolutely massive five-year, $178 million contract. It's clear with this deal that Milwaukee wants to run it back with the same team-- most of it, anyway. But what this deal does to their flexibility going forward must be noted.
Once free agency opens at 6 PM, All-Star Khris Middleton plans to return to the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year, $178M contract, league sources tell ESPN. The deal is expected to include a player option on final year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Take that in for a moment. A whopping $178 million for... Khris Middleton?
Yes, the guy had a fine 2018-19 season, posting 18.3 points per game with 6 rebounds and approximately 4 assists, and was an All-Star for the first time in his career. However, he experienced regression in his field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and points despite boosting up his three-point percentage to 38 percent.
It seems as though the Bucks were desperate to re-sign Middleton, and caved to his demands. Yes, Middleton is known for the significant impact he has on both ends of the court, but he simply doesn't do enough to warrant the amount of money he received. And based on how much they paid him, along with ownership's reticence to pay the luxury tax, the efficient Malcolm Brogdon had to leave in a sign-and-trade.
Kris Middleton for 35.6 mil a year ? pic.twitter.com/pTfCZu7HiQ
— Sledge (@ELMartillo020) June 30, 2019
This news comes shortly after Brook Lopez re-signed with the Bucks for four-years, $52M. It seems as though the Bucks believe that the success they achieved in the 2019 season is sustainable with this core of players that they have.
Once free agency opens at 6 PM ET, Brook Lopez is planning to sign a four-year, $52M deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Milwaukee has had trouble with overpaying its own players, as they clearly value internal stability. Middleton could wind up being one of these guys, but it's clear that the Bucks were afraid enough of losing him that they offered him the bag.
can we all take a moment to digest that kris middleton is getting 178 million.
— La Pantera rising ? (@SFGore) June 30, 2019
178 million. #nba
No one knows what the future holds, so it's hard to say whether the Bucks can continue to grow, and whether Middleton will live up to his insane contract. However, Milwaukee is clearly banking on the fact that the core they have in place will continue to grow to new levels with each passing year.