Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Should Magic Sign Bucks Free Agent Khris Middleton?
ORLANDO - The Milwaukee Bucks finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, but managed just a single playoff victory after losing their first-round series 4-1 at the hands of the Miami Heat.
The Bucks now face an offseason of uncertainty, as starters Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez face free agency.
Both players could be significant losses for the Bucks, who won the NBA Finals just two seasons ago. Among the two former All-Stars, Middleton is a headliner in this year's free agent class, someone the Orlando Magic could ultimately look at as a piece to the puzzle.
Middleton, 32, struggled to stay healthy this season. He played in just 33 games for the Bucks and averaged just over 24 minutes a game. Despite a limited role, Middleton still managed to average 15.1 points per game.
The strongest part between the link from Middleton to the Magic is general manager John Hammond, who helped engineer the former All-Star's trade to Milwaukee from the Detroit Pistons after one year as a benchwarmer in the league.
Ever since the trade, Middleton has been in Milwaukee ever since, and in nine years with the team, he's made it to three All-Star games and won an NBA Finals alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This offseason, the Magic has the fourth-most cap space in the league, giving Orlando room to sign Middleton to a larger contract than maybe the Bucks would.
There's a decent chance Middleton stays with Milwaukee, especially given his championship pedigree and long-time commitment to the franchise. However, if Middleton is looking for a change and eyeing an opportunity to join a team on the rise, the Magic could be the perfect fit.
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