Bucks expect Khris Middleton to miss about 70 games, reportedly looking to trade for wing

Khris Middleton’s injury sounded bad.

It’s bad.

Bucks release:

Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton suffered a left hamstring injury in preseason workouts that will require surgery, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Middleton is expected to be sidelined for approximately six months, with surgery planned in the next week.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/778743987221860352

A sixth-month injury would keep Middleton out 70 games – nearly all of an 82-game season.

I can see why the Bucks want wing help. As their roster stands, this likely pushes Rashad Vaughn and Malcolm Brogdon into roles over their heads.

But Milwaukee must ask itself some hard questions before trading.

Should Giannis Antetokounmpo continue his development at point guard?

That might be best for his long-term growth, but he’s definitely more needed now at forward. Matthew Dellavedova, Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis can handle point guard better than the Bucks’ other wing options can step up at small forward.

How much would any player received in a trade boost the Bucks’ playoff odds?

Milwaukee isn’t getting a good wing without giving up a player of value (and that’s apparently not Greg Monroe). Considering the Bucks’ best assets are young players and draft picks, they’d likely be mortgaging their future to win now. That’s not necessarily a bad aim, but it only pays off if the wing acquired actually makes gets Milwaukee into the playoffs.

The Bucks need to take a sober assessment of where they stand without Middleton, where they’d stand with a replacement and where they’d stand next year with Middleton healthy, Antetokounmpo developed at point guard and all their assets still in tact. It’s not a fun analysis, but it’s necessary now.