The Cooper Flagg era has already begun to fly, as he's now under the leadership of president Masai Ujiri, general manager Mike Schmitz and head coach Dusty May. The Mavericks aren't messing around, but they would be if they overpaid one of their veteran pieces.
Khris Middleton has been a solid veteran addition to Dallas, and it'd be interesting to see what the Mavs can do to try and keep him. However, if the Mavs give him anything but a minimum deal, it won't be a good look for Ujiri or Schmitz.
Middleton was worth the three-year, $102 million contract he got with the Milwaukee Bucks three years ago, but he's not that same player anymore. He's going to be 35 soon, and the Mavs need to use caution if they're going to bring him back.
Mavericks need to be as financially sensitive as possible if they resign Khris Middleton
Middleton has provided plenty of reasons to return to Dallas, but it has to be for the price.
Middleton came to Dallas last year from the Anthony Davis trade, and while fans were quick to dismiss Davis' playing habits as ineffective, Middleton was the clear opposite. Since the trade to Dallas, he's played in 29 games and started in 16. He's averaged 10 points a game, shooting 40 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep.
He's not going to be the 20-points-a-game scorer we saw with the Bucks a few years back, but that's OK too. If he's fine with taking a minimum deal and playing decent minutes from the bench, that's a true win for Dallas.
NBA insider Marc Stein said on All-City DLLS that a return to Dallas "has not yet been ruled out." It may be the news that fans are looking for, but if he's OK with taking a minimum deal, that's even better. The Miami Heat have been linked to Middleton, with a chance to reunite with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they already paid a lot for the "Greek Freak."
Middleton deserves all of our respect. He's an All-Star player and a champion with the Bucks, and he deserves to be heard wherever he goes.
As we said before, this is Flagg's team, and Irving is the veteran superstar who's going to get the most out of Flagg's sophomore leap, assuming Irving can stay on the court. If that's without Middleton, then it's more of an "oh well" moment, not a sorrowful one.
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