Ranking 12 Phoenix Suns free agent targets with ties to Kevin Durant
By Tyler Watts
3. Khris Middleton
Could two teams in need of a shakeup swap key pieces? The Milwaukee Bucks had the best regular season record in the NBA before being dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat. They have since fired their head coach, and two key pieces on their roster are soon-to-be unrestricted free agents. Can the Bucks bring back both Middleton and Brook Lopez and just run it back?
One avenue would be swapping Middleton in a sign-and-trade for another key piece. The Suns are a realistic partner because they have both Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton making a lot of money. Could Phoenix swap Ayton for Middleton to give them three All-Star wings? It may be the best offer they get for the 24-year-old because he is set to make north of $100 million over the next three seasons.
Middleton was limited by injuries to just 33 games this season, and his production dipped. The 6’7 wing bounced back in the playoffs, but the Bucks were eliminated in five games. Is the 31-year-old on the decline? That is something the Suns will have to assess before making this trade.
Kevin Durant and Khris Middleton were teammates at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as Team USA won the gold medal, and the 13-time All-Star called the current Bucks wing “one of the best players in the NBA” back in 2018. Fans can bet KD would welcome playing with the 6’7 wing again.