DHJ Quick Take: Khris Middleton Linked to Heat, but Not an Early Free Agency Target
Khris Middleton, who finished last season with the Mavericks, has drawn free agency interest from the Heat because of his ties to Giannis Antetokounmpo, though Miami did not target him early in the process.
- Why is Miami interested in Khris Middleton? He won a title alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and shares Olympic gold-medal history with Bam Adebayo.
- Has Miami prioritized signing him? No, according to a league source cited by the Miami Herald, Middleton was not an early target once free agency opened.
- What did Middleton do with the Mavericks? He averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 63 games with Washington and Dallas, including a 35-point game against Memphis.
- What’s next? Middleton remains an unrestricted free agent, with the Heat and other teams still possible landing spots as free agency continues.
The Miami Heat have been connected to Khris Middleton in free agency, largely because of his relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo. But Miami did not target the former Dallas Mavericks forward in the opening days of free agency, the Miami Herald reported, citing a league source. Middleton, 34, remains an unrestricted free agent.
The connection dates back to Milwaukee, where Middleton and Antetokounmpo won a championship together in 2021. Middleton also shares Olympic gold-medal history with Bam Adebayo from Team USA’s run in Tokyo. Antetokounmpo joined Adebayo in Miami via a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, and the Heat have spent the opening days of free agency figuring out how to fill out the roster around their new frontcourt pairing.
Miami’s Free Agency Approach
Miami enters free agency hard-capped near the first apron with limited spending power after absorbing Antetokounmpo’s salary, and the Heat are expected to lean on minimum-level contracts to fill out the roster. Miami already retained Andrew Wiggins, who turned down a $30 million player option in favor of a three-year, $64 million deal.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has already agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with Miami, a source told Dallas Hoops Journal. Bradley Beal and Gabe Vincent have also drawn interest from the Heat for minimum deals, according to multiple reports. Middleton’s status remains fluid within that group. He was passed over early in the process, but he remains a possibility for one of Miami’s remaining minimum-salary slots, according to a Wednesday report from Yahoo Sports.
Khris Middleton’s Dallas Mavericks Tenure
Dallas acquired Middleton in February as part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. The deal also brought AJ Johnson and Marvin Bagley III to Dallas, along with two first-round picks and three second-round picks. Middleton chose to stay with the Mavericks through the rest of the season rather than seek a buyout, even though his expiring contract made him a possible trade chip for a playoff-bound team.
He delivered several standout performances down the stretch, including a 25-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist night that snapped Dallas’s 10-game losing streak against the Indiana Pacers, and a 35-point outing on 10-of-17 shooting against the Memphis Grizzlies, the best scoring total by a Mavericks reserve since Rodrigue Beaubois in 2010. Across 63 games with Washington and Dallas last season, Middleton averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 42.0% shooting from the field and 36.0% from three-point range.
Denver and San Antonio were among the teams that reportedly would have pursued Middleton had he been bought out by Dallas in February, an indication that other suitors could surface if the Heat’s board fills up elsewhere first.
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