Khris Middleton Rumors: Bucks Expected to Finalize New Contract amid Kings Links

Even though the Sacramento Kings have been clearing cap space with the hope of making a big splash in free agency, it doesn't sound like Khris Middleton will be leaving the Milwaukee Bucks.

Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, "all signs" point toward Middleton signing a new deal with the Bucks even though the Kings' pursuit of the three-time All-Star has been a "popular theory" floated by people in the NBA recently.

The Kings' draft-night trade in which they basically sold the No. 24 overall pick (Olivier-Maxence Prosper) and Richaun Holmes' contract to the Dallas Mavericks for cap space raised some eyebrows.

ESPN's Kevin Pelton noted the Kings could have around $36 million in cap space thanks to the trade.

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Kings and Detroit Pistons could be contenders to sign Draymond Green if he decides to leave the Golden State Warriors.

Middleton's decision to opt out of his $40.4 million salary for next season didn't seem like it caused a lot of panic in Milwaukee.

"Khris is core to who we are and really all the success we've had," Bucks general manager Jon Horst told reporters after the draft last week. "Our goal is always to sustain our success and continue to compete and (have) a chance to win and be in position to win year in and year out. We hope to have him back."

The Bucks also have Brook Lopez preparing to enter free agency.

NBA insider Marc Stein noted on May 20 the "working assumption" from people around the league is both Lopez and Middleton will stay in Milwaukee, but "that comes with considerable uncertainty because A) no one knows yet how much it will cost to re-sign them and B) if the Bucks will have any flexibility to make the moves they need to make to freshen up the rest of the roster."

Middleton is coming off an injury-plagued 2022-23 season that limited him to 33 games in the regular season. He had surgery on his right knee shortly after the Bucks' first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Owczarski noted Middleton is expected to start on-court work in July.

The 31-year-old averaged 15.1 points and 4.9 assists per game last season. He looked much better in the playoffs with 23.8 points on 40.6 percent three-point shooting, 6.2 assists and 6.4 rebounds in five starts against the Heat.