Khris Middleton is set to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnaworski.
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
Middleton will reportedly take slightly less than max money agreeing to a five-year $178 million dollar contract.
Keeping Middleton means the Bucks have decided to keep their 60-win core together for another run at the title.
Middleton's numbers were slightly down from the 2017-18 season as he averaged 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field but he was finally validated this season with his first All-Star nod.
Earlier this season the Bucks locked up point guard Eric Bledsoe to a four-year $70 million dollar contract. It was also reported by Wojnarowski that at the start of free agency that Brook Lopez will make his return to Milwaukee on a four-year $52 million dollar deal.
Once free agency opens at 6 PM ET, Brook Lopez is planning to sign a four-year, $52M deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
All the pieces are now in place in Milwaukee for the team to try and keep league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be eligible to sign a supermax contract when free agency begins in July 2020. The potential Antetokounmpo deal could be the largest contract in NBA history, worth up to 35% of the Bucks' cap.
Players can negotiate agreements with teams on July 1st but contracts can't be officially signed until the new league year begins on July 7.