Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton- Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly willing to go all in to acquire Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, including trading away one of the organization’s all-time players.
According to Clutch Points NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Bucks remain interested in acquiring Butler and are willing to include forward Khris Middleton in the trade after previous reports signaled that Milwaukee would prefer to hold onto Middleton if possible.
“To even make a deal for Butler possible, the Bucks would first need to move Pat Connaughton and his $9.4 million contract to a team like the Detroit Pistons, who would be able to absorb his salary with their cap space. Then, Milwaukee faces the issue of aggregating salaries to match Butler’s $48.7 million contract. This means a package of Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, or Middleton, Bobby Portis, and another player, would need to be sacrificed to acquire Butler,” Siegel stated and continued by saying, “This is the only real scenario in which Milwaukee would be willing to move Middleton before this year’s trade deadline, sources said.”
Middleton, who is averaging 12.6 points and 4.9 assists per game this season, has been battling tendinitis in his ankles due to off-season surgery and was moved out of the starting rotation by head coach Doc Rivers earlier this month as he looks to find a better fit at small forward that better compliments Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s current playing style.
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