Why Khris Middleton turned down the Nuggets’ chance to stay with the Mavericks
As Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton plans to stay with the team, it came after some questions about the next chapter in the NBA veteran’s journey. Doc Middleton’s future with the Mavericks has been rumoredespecially as he heads into the buyout market, this NBA insider shares why the 34-year-old decided to stay where he is instead of going to Denver Nuggetswho had an interest.
Mark Stein would delve into the information he has gathered about Middleton’s situation on the “Stein Line”, including the player himself telling him earlier last week that he would “keep his options open”. However, it led to Middleton staying in Dallas, and the main reason he didn’t want to “sacrifices its rights as a bird.”
“I’m guessing you’ve probably been following my tweets all week on the Chris Middleton front,” Stein wrote. “I reported Saturday night that Middleton — after telling me he would keep his options open over the weekend regarding a possible buyout — has pledged to stay in Dallas until the end of the season.”
“He could seek a buyout to join the highly interested Nuggets or another playoff team, but Middleton would be forced to sacrifice his Bird rights in the process,” Stein continued. “Retaining the rights to Bird means Middleton is eligible for a potential trade this summer.”
The Mavericks are interested in bringing back Khris Middleton
With Middleton weighed his options last week with the Mavericksthe final decision was to stay, as he played in eight games for the franchise after being traded from the Washington Wizards in the Anthony Davis deal. Although the right-wing bird allows him to be in a sign-and-trade, Stein reports that “Dallas has interest in bringing Middleton back next season.”
“I have also been told that Dallas has interest in bringing Middleton back next season, depending on the state of the roster in July,” Stein wrote. “Such is the positive impression Middleton has made as a Maverick in the short time since he was acquired in the Anthony Davis deal on deadline day less than a month ago.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Middleton.
2026-03-02 17:52:00
