One of the Milwaukee Bucks’ most controversial decisions had another layer added on Monday.
Just a day after the NBA season came to an end, there has already been an abundance of news around the association. The latest came from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday afternoon, when he reported that Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton has accepted his $33.3 million player option for next season.
Middleton was only in Washington for the final couple of months of the season, but his time with the Wizards was still beneficial for both him and the team. As he mentored some of their younger guys and found some rhythm after having an injury-riddled start to the season, Middleton might have found another temporary home in Washington.
Of course, seeing his success in Washington only makes things tougher for the Bucks. At the trade deadline, the Bucks sent Middleton to the Wizards as part of a package to land Kyle Kuzma.
In the playoffs, Kuzma had one of the worst performances of any starter in the league, and with Damian Lillard set to miss most of next season, Middleton’s absence will sting even more. Sure, Middleton is past his prime and might not be able to deliver the same impact as he did during the team’s title run.
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However, the Bucks could have used his playmaking and scoring to pair with his incredible chemistry with Giannis Antetokounmpo next season. The three-time All-Star only averaged 10.7 points in 14 games with the Wizards last season, but with a healthy offseason and the motivation of playing in a contract year, Middleton could make the Bucks regret their deadline deal.