Khris Middleton is a free agent (as soon as the Bulls finally beat the Bucks). He's 6'8". He can play SG or SF. He's a very versatile scorer. He leads the league in drpm at SG. What's not to like? I would like to sign him even if we signed Wes, but certainly if Wes's price gets too high (and Middleton's doesn't) I would want to go after him. Of course, the Bucks will want him back, but they have Jabari Parker coming back next year who may take a lot of his minutes (and whose absence allowed him to flourish) and he's not going to take minutes away from Antetokounmpo, so he might be ready to jump ship. He would certainly replace Dorrell Wright and Aaron Afflalo, and maybe bump CJ over to backup PG, which would be fine with me. And perhaps signing him would light a fire under Batum's ass, who currently knows he's essential to the team because there's no adequate backup.
He's going to get the max, or very close to it. He defends multiple positions well - plays a lot at PF. HUGE upgrade over Batum.
Yes, sign him to a max deal so we can all complain about him getting "star money" in two years when he's averaging 9ppg.
That remains to be seen. I doubt very much that the Bucks would offer him that, given that they have Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker AND Carter-Williams.
This is both a good and a bad year to be a FA. Good because the pickin's are slim and so it's a sellers' market. Bad because the stupid-TV-money hasn't kicked in yet, so the max next year will be a shitload more than it is this year. I can see teams offering the top 3 or 4 FAs opt-out-after-one-year deals, like Love and LeBron got last year.
I'll be shocked if he doesn't get the max or very close to it. I'd be interested in signing him but that would only be if LaMarcus leaves and Id much rather choose LMA between the two. His salary is fine for Milwaukee since Jabari has 3 more years on a small rookie deal and by then the cap will be $100+ mil. They specifically traded away Brandon Knight because they'd rather pay to keep Middleton so I find it unlikely they don't pay him close to the max.
The players will determine the lengths of their deals not the teams. So many teams have max money and every team will have max room the following two summers so any borderline starter will get a max contract this summer. The players signing one year deals will only be allstars who are underpaid at the max. Gasol, Aldridge, Love.
http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/khris-middleton-sidelined-hamstring-injury/ Looks like they've already made a move to compensate. But I can't help but wonder what this means for Milwaukee and Monroe. Are they more or less likely to trade him now? Are we still in play for Monroe? Definitely seems like something to keep an eye on this season.
I'd be more interested in if we could get Middleton now. He won't be back till late March but he'd be a great piece for the playoffs and the future. I'd be on the phone offering Leonard and Harkless, while trying to swing a 3-way trade for a wing to replace Moe. Adding Middleton to the wings we already have would be great.
Funny you bring that up. I'm actually waiting for the Even Turner Dump or Trade thread. I predict it will come around halfway through the season.
Unconfirmed rumor is Monroe is very available. But it does not sound like there is strong interest from any team, at this time. The Bucks may want too much for him? It also appears Middleton is next to untouchable, at this time.
You're crazy. I'd rather have the guy who's a better defender, 40% 3pt shooter, can play SG, SF, or PF and averaged 18ppg last year.
