Khris Middleton will remain a member of the Dallas Mavericks for at least the remainder of the season. The veteran forward did not seek a buyout before the NBA’s Sunday midnight deadline, keeping him in Dallas for the remainder of the season and off the free agent market that would have allowed him to sign with a playoff contender.
Head coach Jason Kidd made clear before Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder that the organization is glad he stayed.
“That’s great,” Kidd said. “Looking at Khris as a vet, he’s already had some impact with us — on and off the floor. For him to be able to stay, it was great. We try not to play him 40 minutes a night, but his ability as a vet to score and to lead is something that’s needed. We’re happy he stayed.”
Khris Middleton’s Impact Already Felt in Dallas
Middleton has appeared in seven games as a Maverick since arriving in the Feb. 5 blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington. He is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on 48.5% shooting with Dallas — a notable uptick from the 44.3% he shot across 41 games total this season, which includes his time with Washington.
His best performance in a Dallas uniform came Feb. 22 in Indiana, where he posted 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three. On Thursday against Sacramento, he made his first home appearance at American Airlines Center and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Kidd has leaned on Middleton not only as a scorer but as a mentor for rookie Cooper Flagg, who has been sidelined since Feb. 10 with a left midfoot sprain.
“Playing through him, he’s a vet,” Kidd said of Middleton earlier this week. “He’s a champion, he’s a pro. I’ve been talking to him a lot about how he can help Coop. It’s been great working with Khris.”
The Dallas Mavericks Buyout Decision That Was Never Simple
The buyout question had been a genuine one heading into Sunday’s deadline. Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Middleton was a candidate to be bought out, which would have made him a free agent and preserved his playoff eligibility for a contending team.
At 34 years old and in the final year of a $33.3 million contract, the appeal of a championship chase — he won one in Milwaukee in 2021 — was an obvious pull.
But the calculus was never straightforward. The Mavericks hold Middleton’s full Bird Rights, giving Dallas more flexibility than any other team to re-sign him this summer and the ability to facilitate a sign-and-trade to a team that could not otherwise afford him.
A buyout would have stripped that leverage from the equation. Continuing to rebuild his efficiency in a system that has suited him, entering free agency healthy and productive, was always the more financially sound path — even without a playoff run attached to it.
The Mavericks were not pushing him toward the exit, and sources indicated Dallas was allowing Middleton to evaluate his options with full organizational support either way.
What Khris Middleton Staying Means Going Forward
With the deadline passed, Middleton is now locked in through the end of the season. For a Dallas team sitting at 21-38 and working through an injury-riddled stretch, his veteran presence takes on added importance. Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington are both out Sunday, leaving Middleton as the most experienced scoring option available against Oklahoma City.
Naji Marshall, who has started alongside Middleton since the trade, offered his own assessment of what the veteran has brought to the group.
“He’s a vet,” Marshall said. “He helps us score, spaces the floor, makes the game easier — and he’s just an all-around good teammate. He helps us on the floor, shows us how to make the game easier. Shout out to Khris.”
Tip-off against the Thunder is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center. The game can be seen on MavsTV and KFAA.
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