Coming off of a disappointing season opener against the Celtics, it is obvious that the Philadelphia 76ers need a third piece to compete against the elite teams in the East. Khris Middleton is someone who the Philadelphia 76ers should pursue in 2019 free agency to help fill that need.
For the past six seasons, Khris Middleton has developed and thrived with the Milwaukee Bucks. He has become a quality starter, and the Bucks’ second best player to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks gave him a $70 million dollar contract back in 2015, which turned out to be one of the most valuable “bang for your buck” deals in the NBA.
That contract is coming to an end, however. Khris Middleton will almost certainly decline his player option of $12 million and test the market for the first time in the 27-year old swingman’s career.
While the Bucks can resign Middleton in the offseason, the chances of that may be less than most think. He has already declined an extension from them, and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been out of the first round of the playoffs since 2000. An additional early playoff exit may persuade Khris Middleton to move elsewhere.
Recently, ESPN’s Zach Lowe did a feature involving some bold predictions when it came to the upcoming season. One of his bold predictions was that Khris Middleton would earn over $30 million (per year) in the upcoming free agency. Along with that, Lowe stated this:
"“Middleton is the ideal second banana on a good team, and third banana on a great one. Every team that strikes out on the biggest names will come calling. The Bucks want to retain Middleton, and if he has a good year, they will have to pay up. Keep an eye on Philadelphia and Indiana.”"
Zach Lowe is a creditable source, and it seems that there might be some interest involving Middleton and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Losing Middleton would hurt the Bucks in a major way, as they are a small market. Giannis Antetokounmpo would be left on an island, and the team would definitely take a hit from it. Expect them to be willing to throw a large contract his way, barring any health issues.
After a summer of hearing big names (such as LeBron James, Paul George, etc) being rumored around Philadelphia, it may be disappointing to some fans to hear a name like Middleton being rumored to land with the Sixers. While Middleton isn’t an elite talent, he is a high quality starter in this league and the team would be lucky to land him.
At 6-foot-8, Khris Middleton is a great height to play either wing position. In the past we’ve seen him effectively guard a multitude of talent in the Eastern Conference; ranging from the likes of Jayson Tatum to Victor Oladipo.
While the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t had much success in the playoffs, they did have an extended series with the Celtics. Khris Middleton was a major reason the series went to seven games; averaging just under 25 points on a crazy 60 percent shooting from the field and three-point land.
The Sixers are a team that currently lacks wing depth. Adding an effective 3-and-D player capable of creating his own shot would do wonders.
At this point the 76ers are chasing after the Celtics. The biggest weakness currently found within the Sixers is shot creation (outside of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid), wing defense, and three-point shooting. Those are the same three things Khris Middleton specializes in.
The Sixers would be able to use Middleton in a variety of ways. If he landed with the team we could see him play a good amount of minutes at shooting guard, small forward, and even power forward.
The Philadelphia 76ers could elect to go with a lengthy lineup (the shortest being 6-foot-8) with Simmons, Robert Covington, Middleton, Dario Saric, and Embiid. This lineup would be very effective in spacing and on the defensive side of the ball.
So, what’s the chance the Sixers actually land Middleton? That question relies entirely on how much money Elton Brand would be willing to pay.
While Middleton is a quality starter, some may argue that he doesn’t push the Sixers over the hump.
This argument shouldn’t really matter, as the Sixers’ cap space will dry up regardless of if the team lands him or not. The team can either land Middleton (or another talent) and then pay the likes of Simmons and Saric, or they can let the money disappear for good.
Middleton will be looking for a major pay raise, as he has been underpaid for the majority of his career. He will be looking for near-max numbers in terms of contracts. While everyone has their own opinions, Middleton is most likely worth anywhere from $20-$30 million a year.
If the Sixers have a chance to sign him to a number in that range, they should do it with little hesitation. Not only would they land a quality player that fits seamlessly with their stars, they would also have a chance to have some additional spending money in free agency.
Wether or not Middleton stays, largely depends on Milwaukee’s success this season. Hearing rumors of a mutual interest between Philadelphia and Khris Middleton this early is definitely something to keep watch on as the season progresses.