Tag: khris middleton

Four-team trade sends Khris Middleton to Wizards, Kyle Kuzma to Bucks

The Washington Wizards yesterday acquired forward Khris Middleton, guard Akeem Jamaal (AJ) Johnson, the right to swap a 2028 first-round pick, and cash considerations from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for forward Kyle Kuzma and a 2025 second-round pick. As part of a four-team trade, the Wizards also acquired the draft rights to Mathias Lessort from the New York Knicks and dealt Patrick Baldwin Jr. to San Antonio.

“We look forward to welcoming Khris and AJ to Washington” stated General Manager Will Dawkins. “Khris is a championship-caliber player whose professionalism will help our organization in multiple ways. AJ’s addition to our roster provides us another young, athletic, and versatile guard.”

Middleton (6-7, 222) was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft (39th overall) before being traded to Milwaukee in 2013. A three-time All-Star (2019, 2020, 2022), he was also a member of Team USA that captured gold during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 762 career games (657 starts) across 13 seasons with Detroit and Milwaukee, Middleton holds career averages of 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He has made nine playoff appearances (80 games) and started every game during Milwaukee’s playoff run to the 2021 NBA Championship. In the postseason, Middleton has averaged 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

Johnson (6-5, 170) was selected by the Bucks in the 2024 NBA Draft (23rd overall). He is currently averaging 2.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in seven games with Milwaukee this season. Johnson has also appeared in 25 games (Tip-Off Tournament + Regular Season) for the Bucks’ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. He joins Alex Sarr (second), Bub Carrington (14th), and Kyshawn George (24th) as the fourth player from the 2024 NBA Draft to be added to Washington’s roster.

In three-and-a-half seasons with Washington, Kuzma appeared in 232 games (230 starts) averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In 32 appearances for the Wizards this season, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Kuzma was originally acquired by Washington in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 2021-2022 season.

“We want to thank Kyle for his contributions during his time with our team,” said Dawkins. “His impact on and off the court was felt by teammates, coaches, and fans alike. His dedication to giving back to the DMV community will leave a lasting impact. We wish him and Patrick success in the next chapter of their careers.”

Baldwin Jr. was traded to Washington prior to the start of the 2023-24 season and appeared in 60 games, averaging 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.

Bucks forward Khris Middleton reportedly had knee surgery after playoffs

Via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Three-time all-star Khris Middleton had a procedure on his right knee shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks’ season ended, league sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He is expected to begin court work in July.

It is the same knee he suffered a torn meniscus in during his junior year at Texas A&M in the fall of 2011, which forced him to miss two months of action and ultimately played a role in falling to Detroit in the second round of the 2012 draft.

With Jimmy Butler out, Heat fall to Bucks

Playing without Jimmy Butler and getting outscored by 20 points in the 4th against a team like the Bucks is a pretty solid recipe for losing a basketball game. And that’s what the Heat did, falling 130-116 to a Bucks team that has now clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern conference. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on Butler but also guard Goran Dragic, who missed the game as well:

Butler has now missed two consecutive games. Coach Erik Spoelstra said prior to Thursday’s game there has already been an X-ray and MRI done on Butler’s injured foot, and “at this point, it’s rest and recovery.”

“Jimmy, his foot is sore,” Spoelstra said. “We want to make sure that he’s feeling like he did even a week ago.”

Meanwhile, Dragic limped off the court with 5.2 seconds to play in Tuesday’s victory over the Boston Celtics after landing awkwardly on his left ankle. The Heat announced later that night that an X-ray on his injured ankle returned negative.

“Goran, obviously you saw at the end of the game with a sprained ankle,” Spoelstra said Thursday. “Moving around a lot better, had a really good day yesterday and today of treatment.”

In the win for the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 33 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, though he did commit six turnovers. Khris Middleton also scored 33 points, plus six rebounds and an impressive eight assists. While Brook Lopez added 17 points.

In the loss for the Heat, Duncan Robinson shot well for 21 points, as did Tyler Herro who had 20 off the bench.

Bucks re-sign Khris Middleton

Bucks re-sign Khris Middleton

The Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed restricted free agent forward Khris Middleton, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 1, “after playing for $915,000 last season, Middleton and the Bucks agreed on the parameters of a five-year, $70 million contract, averaging $14 million a season.”

“Khris played a huge role in our turnaround last season and has become a leader on our young team,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Keeping Khris in a Bucks uniform was a huge priority for us this offseason, and we’re thrilled that he’ll continue to grow with our young core as we work towards building a championship-caliber team in Wisconsin.”

Middleton, 23, has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee after being acquired through a trade with Detroit in July of 2013, the summer after his rookie year. In a breakout season with the Bucks in 2014-15, Middleton posted career highs in points per game (13.4), rebounds per game (4.4) and assists per game (2.3). He tied for ninth in the NBA for steals per turnover ratio (122:113, 1.08), and his 3-point percentage of 40.7 tied for 10th in the league. Middleton became the first player to have multiple game-winning 3-pointers in the same season (at Phoenix on Dec. 15 and vs. Miami on March 24) since Kobe Bryant in 2009-10. He posted a career-high 30 points two times last season out of 59 total double-digit scoring games. Middleton saw his first playoff action in 2015 and led the Bucks in scoring in the postseason with 15.8 points through the six games (all starts).

The six-foot-nine-inch forward out of Texas A&M was selected 39th overall by the Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft. Middleton owns career averages of 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He has a career field goal percentage of 45.3 and 3-point percentage of 40.3. His 3-point percentage through two seasons with Milwaukee, 41.0, ranks third on the Bucks’ all-time list.