With The Clock Ticking On Buyout Deadline, Khris Middleton’s Dallas Mavericks Future Remains A Question

Grant AfsethFebruary 27, 2026February 28, 2026

NBA: Khris Middleton dribbles against Jaden McDaniels during the fourth quarter at Target Center as the Dallas Mavericks face the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Khris Middleton has six games under his belt as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. He has averaged 14.5 points on 50.0% shooting, posted a 25-point performance against Indiana and on Thursday night made his first home appearance at American Airlines Center — finishing with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists in a losing effort against the Sacramento Kings.

How many more games he suits up for in a Mavericks uniform remains to be seen.

Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Middleton remains a candidate to be bought out before Sunday’s midnight deadline, which would make him a free agent and allow him to sign with a playoff contender while retaining his postseason eligibility. With the Mavericks sitting at 21-37 and firmly outside the postseason picture, the appeal of a championship chase is an obvious one for a 34-year-old veteran in the final year of a $33.3 million contract with one title already on his résumé. But whether that appeal is enough to set a buyout in motion is a question that remains genuinely open — and one that Kidd made clear belongs entirely to Middleton.

“That’s up to Khris,” Kidd said before Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. “We support whatever decision he makes if he’s going to stay or if he’s gonna get bought out. But I think he’s gotta make that decision here pretty quick.”

Khris Middleton is Finding His Footing

The numbers Middleton has put up in six games with Dallas tell an encouraging story, particularly for a player whose efficiency had stalled badly during his time in Washington. He shot just 42.7% from the field across 48 games with the Wizards over the past two seasons — a significant drop from the 49.7% he shot during his prime years in Milwaukee. In Dallas, he is shooting 50.0% and has shown flashes of the pick-and-roll threat and mid-range scorer that made him a two-time All-Star.

His best performance as a Maverick came February 22nd in Indiana, where he went for 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three — just 12 days after joining the team.

Adjusting to a new system mid-season has not been without its challenges, as Middleton acknowledged after the Pacers game.

“It’s still communication — pretty much constantly throughout the game,” Middleton said. “Just trying to figure out where to be, where to go, where guys want it, things of that nature. We got a couple practices in over the All-Star break, but it’s still not training camp. It’s still not enough time to fully get to know one another. We’re just trying to figure it out on the fly as best we can.”

What the NBA Is Saying About Khris Middleton

Middleton’s brief stint in Dallas has generated genuine interest around the league, with scouts and executives closely tracking how he has looked in a new system after two difficult seasons in Washington. The early returns have been encouraging to those who have watched him closely — and the question of where he might land if a buyout comes together has already prompted plenty of discussion in league circles.

A scout who has watched Middleton closely in his brief time with Dallas came away encouraged by what he saw.

“He’s looked good with the Mavs,” the scout told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He’s not getting up a ton of threes, but he can knock down open looks. He’s showing off the same mid-range game you expect from him. The Mavs have relied on him to be their closer at times. You can dump the ball to him to attack mismatches. He’s naturally not the same defender he was when he was younger, but he has size and length — still has lateral quickness and will sit down and guard.”

Among contending and competitive teams, league circles have identified several organizations where Middleton could make sense from a basketball and roster-fit standpoint should a buyout come to pass. That group includes the Denver Nuggets, along with the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Portland Trail Blazers. This is not an indication of interest from any of those teams, nor of Middleton’s preferences. Rather, those organizations are viewed around the league as situations where a role and cap mechanics could align. Any potential move would require clear mutual interest on both sides.

Not everyone is convinced a buyout is in Middleton’s best interest, however. A league executive who spoke to DallasHoopsJournal.com suggested the veteran forward might be better served by staying put and letting his game speak for itself heading into an important offseason — pointing specifically to what happened to his efficiency during his time in Washington as a cautionary tale about the value of putting more quality performances together before he reaches free agency.

“His numbers have been down quite a bit — and his efficiency never recovered with the Wizards,” the executive told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He might be best off playing this season out in Dallas where they’re letting him play his game and build some momentum for himself going into free agency. He’s going to get minutes and touches in Dallas. That may not be consistent on a contender. He could join a contender in the summer. I understand the appeal of joining a contender now, though.”

The executive also acknowledged that Middleton’s presence in Dallas carries a complicated dimension for a franchise trying to navigate its draft positioning down the stretch of a lost season.

“When he’s in a rhythm, he’s going to help a team win games. That may hurt the Mavericks’ chances of maximizing draft position now,” the executive told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “But he’s a great locker room guy. He’s genuine about helping younger teammates. That’s a good veteran to have on your team. He’d be a piece that could help them when Kyrie Irving is healthy and ready to go next season. You want vets like [Middleton] around Cooper Flagg.”

The Dallas Mavericks’ Investment Is Real

Whatever happens before Sunday’s deadline, coach Jason Kidd has made no secret of how much he values what Middleton brings — both on the floor and in the locker room. The two have history together from their time in Milwaukee, and Kidd has already been leaning on Middleton to help develop 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 before Thursday’s game. “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.”

After the Pacers game, Kidd was asked directly how much trust he places in Middleton.

“Khris is a champion,” Kidd said. “I’ve been with him early in his basketball journey. He understands how to play. He doesn’t always have to score. His voice and his leadership are needed. I thought he was really good tonight — helping the guys on the floor and on the bench. Also being able to go to him in the pick-and-roll. He doesn’t always have to score, but if he gets double-teamed, he’s trying to make the right play.”

Marshall, who has started alongside Middleton in Dallas, was equally effusive about what the veteran has brought to the group in a short period of time.

“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.”

The Clock, the Market, and What Comes Next

Under NBA rules, any player on a standard contract who is not waived by Sunday’s midnight deadline will not be eligible to appear in the playoffs for a new team this spring. That makes the next 48 hours decisive — but only if the right conditions come together first.

Buyouts at this stage of the season almost always follow a predetermined path. A contender identifies its target, conversations happen quietly, and the buyout itself becomes the final step in a move that has already been agreed upon in principle. If Middleton were to part ways with Dallas, it would almost certainly mean a specific destination had already come into focus — not a leap into the unknown.

Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Mavericks are allowing Middleton to evaluate his options as the deadline approaches, a reflection of the mutual respect between the organization and the veteran forward. Dallas is not pushing him toward the exit, and there is no certainty that a move materializes at all.

There is also a financial dimension worth considering. The Mavericks hold Middleton’s full Bird Rights, meaning Dallas would have more flexibility than any other team to re-sign him this summer. It’s an advantage that can be leveraged in a sign-and-trade scenario to help Middleton land on a team that otherwise could not afford to sign him using cap space. A buyout would strip that advantage from the equation — any team signing him after a buyout would be restricted in what it could offer him in free agency. For a player entering the open market at 34 coming off two difficult seasons in Washington, that is not a trivial consideration. Staying in Dallas through the end of the season, continuing to rebuild his efficiency and entering free agency with his Bird Rights intact may ultimately be the more financially prudent path — even if it means forgoing a playoff run this spring.

The veterans who have navigated the buyout market this season — experienced wings and versatile forwards who have found roles with contenders after being waived in February — offer a template Middleton could follow. But his situation carries more financial nuance than most, and the calculus is not as straightforward as it might appear.

Should Middleton pursue a buyout, the Mavericks would be left to determine how best to use the open roster spot. They would have the option of converting either Moussa Cissé or Ryan Nembhard from a two-way deal to a standard contract, though the recent additions of Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones have reduced the urgency to do so.

Middleton is expected to suit up Friday night against Memphis and could appear Sunday against Oklahoma City — a game that falls on the same day as the midnight deadline. How many more appearances he makes in a Mavericks uniform after that remains to be seen.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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