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Tag: Khris Middleton

  • Blockbuster NBA Trade Sends Anthony Davis to Eastern Conference

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    The NBA trade deadline just detonated.

    According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks have traded 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a massive, multi-asset deal that reshapes the futures of both franchises.

    Full Trade Details

    Wizards receive:

    • Anthony Davis
    • Jaden Hardy
    • D’Angelo Russell
    • Dante Exum

    Mavericks receive:

    • Khris Middleton
    • AJ Johnson
    • Malaki Branham
    • Marvin Bagley III
    • Two first-round picks
    • Three second-round picks

    It’s one of the most aggressive moves Washington has made in decades — and one of the clearest signals yet that Dallas is pivoting toward a new era.

    Why the Wizards Pulled the Trigger

    Washington isn’t just acquiring a star — they’re landing a future Hall of Famer.

    Anthony Davis, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, immediately becomes the most accomplished player on the Wizards’ roster. The move signals a dramatic shift in direction as Washington looks to accelerate its rebuild and raise its ceiling fast.

    With Davis joining a young core that includes Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson, the Wizards are betting that elite talent plus upside youth can coexist — and win sooner than expected.

    When healthy, Davis remains one of the league’s most dominant two-way bigs, capable of anchoring a defense while still putting up All-NBA numbers.

    Why Dallas Is Betting on the Future

    For the Mavericks, this deal is about flexibility, assets, and timing.

    Moving Davis opens significant cap space and brings in:

    • Draft capital
    • Tradeable contracts
    • Younger rotational pieces

    Most importantly, it clears the runway for Dallas to build fully around Cooper Flagg, the franchise centerpiece they’re clearly prioritizing long-term.

    Khris Middleton adds veteran stability, while the picks give Dallas ammunition to reshape the roster over multiple seasons. It’s not a “win-now” trade — it’s a control-the-timeline move.

    What This Means Going Forward

    • Washington just became one of the league’s most fascinating wild cards
    • Dallas gains long-term flexibility without bottoming out
    • The Eastern Conference just got more interesting
    • The trade market may not be done yet

    If this is the tone-setter for the deadline, buckle up.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Sixers Eastern Conference Preview: Can Doc Rivers guide the Bucks to a championship?

    Sixers Eastern Conference Preview: Can Doc Rivers guide the Bucks to a championship?

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    With much of the Sixers’ 2024-25 roster locked in more than a month removed from the start of a franchise-altering free agency, the time has come to evaluate their opposition in the Eastern Conference: of last season’s playoff teams in the East, which ones pose the biggest threats to the Sixers, and how do the teams match up with this new-look team?

    Up third is the team captained by former Sixers head coach Doc Rivers: the Milwaukee Bucks.

    The Bucks made some difficult decisions following a disappointing playoff exit at the end of the 2022-23 season. They traded Jrue Holiday and plenty of additional assets to acquire superstar point guard Damian Lillard — betting on a partnership of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo giving the team greater upside — and parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer just a few years removed from the coaching veteran leading them to a championship. Milwaukee ultimately replaced Budenholzer with longtime assistant coach Adrian Griffin Sr.

    Just 43 games into the 2023-24 season, Milwaukee fired Griffin in an unprecedented move. The team was 33-10 at the time, but Bucks brass simply no longer believed Griffin was not the right person for the job and, rather than wallow in their own mistake, took action and let go the rookie head coach.

    Replacing Griffin was a coach with plenty of experience… Rivers, who had spent the first half of the season calling NBA games as part of ESPN’s top announcing teams after being let go by the Sixers following three consecutive disappointing playoff exits.

    Due to the sheer volume of significant changes being made and a slew of injuries hitting the Bucks at the wrong times, the franchise never found its footing in 2023-24 and fell out of the NBA Playoffs with a first-round elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

    Perhaps the most important improvement the Bucks could make this offseason was stabilizing their ability, securing a cohesive coaching staff and getting all of the team’s core pieces on the same page.

    Roster changes

    But, because the Bucks are a second apron team, they did not have much of a choice but to hope those things contribute to significant growth. Aside from using two draft picks, the team was limited to veteran’s minimum contracts to fill out their roster. To be fair, they did find three players who are likely surefire rotation pieces on minimum deals, but they did not add any franchise-altering talent.

    Added: AJ Johnson (No. 23 overall pick in NBA Draft), Tyler Smith (No. 33 overall pick in NBA Draft), Gary Trent Jr. (free agency), Taurean Prince (free agency), Delon Wright (free agency)

    Retained: n/a

    Extended: n/a

    Lost: Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

    Last summer, sharpshooter Malik Beasley’s market dried up and Milwaukee pounced, offering him a minimum deal and a starting spot on a team that would free him up for plenty of three-point tries and giving him the chance to hit free agency again the following summer with a strong market — even if that meant his stay in Milwaukee only lasting one season.

    After Beasley departed Milwaukee for a Detroit Pistons team desperate for three-point shooting, the team used the exact same playbook to sign Trent, who will likely occupy the role Beasley has vacated. 

    Prince and Wright, two veterans with some defensive versatility, will help raise the floor of an extremely suspect unit of reserves.

    Depth chart projection

    So, after the dust has settled, what does Rivers have to work with?

    PG SG SF PF C
    Damian Lillard Gary Trent Jr. Khris Middleton Giannis Antetokounmpo Brook Lopez
    Delon Wright Pat Connaughton Andre Jackson Jr. Taurean Prince Bobby Portis
    A.J. Green MarJon Beauchamp

    Like the Sixers, Milwaukee has a massive range of possible outcomes because of the fragility of some of their key pieces. Once an iron man of sorts, Lillard has played fewer than 60 games in two of the last three years and missed most of their playoff series last season. Antetokounmpo missed the entirety of that series and is a safe bet to miss a few weeks at some point in the year, but has rarely suffered overly serious injuries. Middleton perhaps carries the biggest red flag from an availability standpoint, playing in just 88 combined games over the last two seasons.

    The Bucks have plenty of young, athletic wing players who have yet to assert themselves as viable rotation pieces on a nightly basis. One of Green, Jackson, Beauchamp or Johnson emerging from the pack would be a boon for Rivers.

    Matching up with the Sixers

    The revamped Sixers might have more sheer talent on their roster than the Bucks have on their roster. Oftentimes, though, a playoff series between teams in the same ballpark from a talent perspective is decided by which team’s best player takes command of the series. Over the last few seasons, Joel Embiid has been a better regular season performer than Antetokounmpo. But unlike the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, Embiid has never taken a series against a fellow contender by the horns and won it by his lonesome.

    In terms of the games within the (theoretical) games here, the most fascinating subplot of a Sixers-Bucks matchup is how the Sixers would defend Antetokounmpo. In the regular season, they will likely throw as many bodies at him as they can while keeping Embiid near the basket. But when the chips are down, there is perhaps no player in the entire NBA who has the perfect combination of strength, size and basketball IQ to contain Antetokounmpo like Embiid has.

    Lillard is as lethal of a scoring threat the guard position as there is in the NBA, not to mention one of the most clutch shot-makers there is. The Sixers will not prevent him from getting buckets, but they do have the requisite defensive pieces to make things challenging for him, most notably Kelly Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin. 

    In Brook Lopez, the Bucks have a viable foe for Embiid when the former NBA MVP looks to dominate as a scorer. Antetokounmpo roaming as a free safety likely represents the most dangerous off-ball defensive threat in the NBA. But the Bucks simply lack enough quality perimeter defenders to consistently handle Tyrese Maxey or Paul George when either is at their best, let alone both at the same time.

    Embiid vs. Antetokounmpo is an enticing debate, with plenty of strong points in both directions. But even if Antetokounmpo narrowly outperforms Embiid in a hypothetical series, the Sixers might have a clear advantage as far as the rest of the teams’ rotations go.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

    Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Wizards cruise past short-handed Bucks 118-95

    Wizards cruise past short-handed Bucks 118-95

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    MILWAUKEE — Rui Hachimura had 26 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 and the Washington Wizards defeated the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 118-95 on Sunday night for their season-best fifth consecutive victory.

    The scuffling Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out due to left knee soreness. Antetokounmpo is averaging 38 points and 14.6 rebounds over his last six games, which included a 43-point, 20-rebound performance in Friday night’s win over Minnesota that snapped Milwaukee’s four-game losing streak.

    Jrue Holiday also missed the game with an illness, and Khris Middleton sat out for the eighth consecutive game due to right knee soreness.

    “Your objective is to dominate whoever is in front of you,” Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma said. “If guys aren’t playing, you’re supposed to beat those teams.”

    Daniel Gafford had 17 points for the Wizards (17-21), who weren’t at full strength, either. They played without leading scorer Bradley Beal, who is dealing with left hamstring soreness.

    Bobby Portis led Milwaukee with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jevon Carter had 14 points and Grayson Allen added 13 points and eight assists.

    Washington led 34-17 after the first quarter, paced by Gafford’s 13 points, as the Wizards exploited a two-center lineup with Bucks big man Brook Lopez on the bench early with foul trouble.

    “I was sticking with the flow of the game, having confidence and going up with the shots that I was taking,” Gafford said. “I felt comfortable taking those shots.”

    Milwaukee shot 26% overall and just 3 of 14 from long range in the period, while the Wizards connected on half their shots.

    “We took advantage whenever we had the chance,” Gafford said of the size advantage. “Whoever went to the basket, we got a bucket. They didn’t have too many shot blockers out there so we just attacked the basket.”

    Washington had 72 points in the paint.

    “That’s a little bit unusual, not the norm,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We usually protect the rim and protect the paint well.”

    Two quick first-quarter fouls on Lopez caused problems for the Bucks.

    “I think his early foul trouble threw us off a little bit,” Budenholzer said.

    Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said his team’s effort on defense set the tone.

    “We got the defense into the game early and that helped us get out to that lead,” he said.

    The Wizards led by 26 in the second quarter and held a 68-50 advantage at halftime. Washington shot 57.4% in the first half, while Milwaukee connected on just 34.6% of its shots.

    Washington remained easily in control throughout the second half as the cold-shooting Bucks failed to mount any sustained runs.

    TIP-INS

    Wizards: F Taj Gibson sat out a second consecutive game with left groin soreness. “We don’t want to push it to the point where this could be something that would last much longer than it should,” Unseld said. … Gafford, who came in averaging 7.1 points per game, scored Washington’s first eight points.

    Bucks: G George Hill also missed the game due to illness. … Joe Ingles was assessed a first-quarter technical foul after exchanging words with Porzingis, who also received a technical. … Milwaukee lost for just the fourth time in 19 home games this season.

    DISTANT MEMORY

    With five consecutive wins, the Wizards have been able to get past a 10-game losing streak that started in November and stretched to mid-December. “By not overreacting, now we’re back and we’re putting some wins together,” Porzingis said. “We have some pretty good rhythm.”

    UP NEXT

    The teams face each other again Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

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    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Will Bobby Portis Start On Milwaukee Bucks For Injured Khris Middleton?

    Will Bobby Portis Start On Milwaukee Bucks For Injured Khris Middleton?

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    Despite 16 players returning to the Milwaukee Bucks from a season ago, there’s still a question about who will start for them. At least at the beginning of the season.

    Khris Middleton won’t be ready for the first regular season game following offseason surgery on his left wrist and it’s unclear exactly when he’ll return. However, he and the Bucks’ front office are confident it will be early in the season. For now, that leaves a hole in the starting lineup.

    Milwaukee has several options on the wing that could step in and fill a role on a short-term basis.

    Pat Connaughton continues to grow his game and is ready to take another leap this season. He knows exactly what Mike Budenholzer wants, has experience playing alongside the other Bucks’ players and plays his role perfectly.

    Wesley Matthews could step in. He’s their best wing defender not named Jrue Holiday and could take some of the defensive load off the Bucks’ guard. He’s also a capable three-point shooter, allowing him to provide some spacing for the starting unit.

    Heck, Jordan Nwora could be an option. Milwaukee brought him back as a restricted free agent and roster 15 players for the first time in a few years. Nwora has a lot to learn defensively, but would give them another offensive weapon in the first five.

    Those are all viable options, but it looks like Milwaukee is leaning in a different direction: Bobby Portis.

    Portis has mostly come off the bench throughout his time in the NBA, but has some starting experience (he’s started about a quarter of his career games). He stepped in for 59 games when Brook Lopez was out last season. He also started the first five games after Middleton went down with a knee injury last postseason.

    Entering Portis into the starting lineup gives Milwaukee a jumbo lineup. He would slide in as the 4 between Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen filling in the backcourt. That’s the same lineup they used in Thursday’s preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks (to be clear: Matthews sat out with an ankle injury).

    It also puts their five best players on the court to tip-off each game. When everyone is healthy, Portis acts as the Bucks’ super-reserve. He’s not your typical Sixth Man of the Year candidate—that award almost always goes to a high-volume scoring guard—but he’s just as good, if not better. He can fit into virtually any lineup combination Milwaukee throws out there, including this jumbo unit.

    It does make Budenholzer work harder to align his rotation. Putting his top three bigs on the court to begin games means he has to substitute one out relatively early to even out the rest of his lineups. When the games count the most, he only plays those three bigs, however, there’s room for a fourth throughout the regular season. That’s where Serge Ibaka or Sandro Mamukelashvili could come in handy.

    Moving Portis to the starting lineup also allows everyone else to stay in their role. Connaughton has thrived off the bench since coming to Milwaukee. Portis is much more capable of handling higher minutes. Connaughton is best when kept around the 20-25 mark. Nwora has a lot of work to become a positive player for the Bucks. Matthews’ minutes should be limited to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

    Overall, Milwaukee has a few intriguing options for a temporary Middleton replacement. Portis could be the clear favorite. He’s the best non-starter they have despite playing out of position in this alignment. It allows everyone else to stay in their role until Middleton returns. The preseason may mean nothing. Or Thursday was a glimpse into Budenholzer’s early-season plans.

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    Brian Sampson, Contributor

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