Khris Middleton has emerged as a vital component for the Dallas Mavericks following a trade involving Anthony Davis. What initially appeared to be a potential buyout situation has transformed into a career resurgence for the 13-year veteran.
Middleton’s Impact on the Mavericks
Middleton opted to remain in Dallas and has become one of the team’s bright spots. He is already receiving starting minutes with the Mavs. Middleton is averaging nearly 13 points in 25 minutes per game. He’s also proving to be an effective one-on-one player when backing down opponents.
He has resurrected his career to another height that no one expected when he was traded to the Mavericks. Middleton was traded to the Mavericks after Anthony Davis was traded to the Washington Wizards.
A Veteran Presence for Young Talent
The Mavericks are likely to secure a lottery pick this summer. Before that, they need to prioritise signing Middleton. A proven leader supporting a young Cooper Flagg is perfect for his growth. A veteran who has seen an NBA Finals championship is invaluable to support the upcoming star.
Having Klay Thompson isn’t bad either. Middleton and Thompson on the same team back in 2019 would’ve been a heck of a team, but having them in 2026 is pretty nice, too. They just play different roles as older guys now.
Middleton’s Role Moving Forward
While it’s Cooper Flagg’s team now, Middleton can be a key supporting piece in crunch time. Signing him should be an easy decision if he continues to perform. He’s passed all the tests so far, and he needs to be a top priority.
Middleton is unlikely to average more than 20 points in his career again. The last time he achieved that was in the 2020-21 season, helping the Milwaukee Bucks win their first championship in 50 years. He was a key piece next to Giannis Antetokounmpo for so long in Milwaukee, and he’s a proven champion.
Middleton doesn’t have to be the flashy player he was back in the day. All he needs to do is play a role in what’s going to be a younger team for next season.
Areas for Improvement
Middleton will probably embrace that role. After Middleton was traded to the Wizards last season, he was still averaging double digits while acting as a veteran voice in the locker room. His 3-point shooting has to be better, as he’s only shooting 30 percent from deep since he was traded to the Mavericks.
That may get better over time, but even if it doesn’t, he can depend on getting to the baseline to go one-on-one against defenders. Most of the time, he’s been a breath of fresh air on the court for the Mavs.
The next move for the Mavericks should be keeping Middleton, the 13-year veteran.