The Milwaukee Bucks are running it back. First it was announced on Sunday that Brook Lopez would likely be re-signing with the team to rejoin Giannis Antetokounmpo to try to make another run at the NBA finals in 2020.
Then later in the afternoon it was reported that Milwaukee would bring back combo-guard Khris Middleton on a 5-year, $178 million deal.
Via Twitter:
Once free agency opens at 6 PM, All-Star Khris Middleton plans to return to the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year, $178M contract, league sources tell ESPN. The deal is expected to include a player option on final year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
This is a great move for the Bucks, who keep a backcourt running mate for point forward and 2019 MVP Antetokounmpo.
Middleton’s extension calls into question what Milwaukee will do with Eric Bledsoe. The team has his Bird rights, and can go over the cap to sign him, but whether he is valuable enough for them at this juncture isn’t clear. Giving Middleton this kind of cash could mean that Milwaukee is looking to go another direction, and away from Bledsoe.
Free agency is starting to heat up, and the best teams in the NBA for next season are starting to form — on paper, at least.