Marc Stein wonders aloud about Khris Middleton with a Mavericks buyout on the table

As the buying season approaches, the future of Chris Middleton is one who is under a lot of scrutiny around the league. Middleton, an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks and a smooth-shooting wing, could emerge as one of the top buyout candidates on the market if he were to buy out.

Middleton was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at the NBA trade deadline. Since the trade, Middleton has suited up for the Mavericks, playing in four games and even had 25 points for the Mavericks against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. But his name is still being discussed as a buyout candidate.

“Is there any chance we can convince Chris Middleton to go ahead with the buyout?”@TheSteinLine wonders if the Pistons could be a landing spot for Mavericks Small Forward sa @talkhoops

Listen to deals and slams weekdays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET https://t.co/uGOfTU9PUj pic.twitter.com/kARlVfi6kS

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 24, 2026

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks have allowed Middleton to control his destiny, determining whether he wants to stay with the team until the end of the season or buy out to join a contender. This led Stein to openly consider whether Middleton could be a candidate to join the surging Pistons, who sit atop the Eastern Conference.

“I have to think. There are a few contenders, playoff teams, and I would have to think the Pistons are among them. I’m wondering, is there any chance we can convince Khris Middleton to go ahead with the buyout? What I reported last night is that the Mavericks basically put the ball in Khris Middleton’s court. If Khris Middleton wants to join Dallas Middleton’s team, will he join the team that’s going to buy him? cooperate.”

The Pistons would be an interesting landing spot for Middleton. Just a few years ago, he was the number two option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks and often found himself making clutch shots in close situations. But the injuries, as well as his contract, caused the Bucks to take time with the organization to trade him to the Wizards in a deal that included Kyle Kuzma.

Khris Middleton continues to prove to be an efficient player, averaging 14 points per game and shooting 35% from three in the 5 games he has played with the Mavericks. With the Wizards, his numbers were more modest through the 34 games he played with the team, as he averaged $10.3 points per game and shot 33% from the field. Perhaps a reunion with the Pistons could be good for Middleton. He was drafted in the second round with the 39th pick by the Pistons in 2012 before being traded to the Bucks in 2013.

The Pistons emerged as a contender, embracing their old-school physicality and rapid development as players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren emerged as young stars in the league; however, the team lacks consistent power shooting. In Monday’s loss to San Antonio, the Pistons made just 7 of their 36 three-point attempts, while the Spurs made 18. Middleton could provide a nice spark in playmaking and shooting for the Pistons as they look to take further control of the Eastern Conference and enter the NBA Finals.

The Pistons play the Thunder tonight at 7:30 PM ET. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.