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Mike Curtis: Jokingly asked Khris Middleton if he could score 83 points like Bam Adebayo: “Whoo. Hey, S/O to Bam. That was tough. A lot of people are talking about him, but for Bam, I got a lot of respect for him. He’s been a hell of a player in this league. More known for his defense, but for anybody to go out there & score 83, especially a guy like Bam hitting 3-pointers, it just shows he’s worked on his game also.”
Grant Afseth: Final: Mavericks 120, Grizzlies 112 Khris Middleton: 35 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL Daniel Gafford: 22 PTS, 14 REB, 1 BLK Cooper Flagg: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST Jaylen Wells: 23 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST GG Jackson: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST Dallas (22-44) hosts Cleveland next.
Mike Curtis: The NBA has fined #Mavs forward Khris Middleton $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece in the direction of the spectator stands during Thursday's loss to the #Magic.
The NBA has fined #Mavs forward Khris Middleton $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece in the direction of the spectator stands during Thursday's loss to the #Magic.
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) March 7, 2026
Grant Afseth: Final: Magic 115, Mavericks 114 Klay Thompson: 24 PTS, 4 REB Khris Middleton: 19 PTS, 7 AST Cooper Flagg: 18 PTS, 6 AST, 4 BLK P.J. Washington: 18 PTS, 5 REB Tristan da Silva: 19 PTS, 3 AST, 3 STL Paolo Banchero: 16 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST Dallas (21-41) plays Boston on Friday.
Mike Curtis: Jason Kidd on this final play: "With Khris taking the ball out, he was trying to lead Coop because he felt Coop was open. It's just relationship building. In times like this, we need to go through that. Khris is new. Khris saw it. We talked about it & Coop was open for a quick second. With the combination of those two not playing together yet in that type of situation, we need to go through that."
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That said, there's some buzz in the NBA that Antetokounmpo prefers the East Coast, which is closer to Greece (both by flight and, perhaps more importantly, time zone). Additionally, some claim that Antetokounmpo misses playing with players like Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who were partners in the 2021 championship run. That's not to suggest he wants to get the band back together. Still, some suggest Antetokounmpo doesn't want to play with a ball-dominant lead guard, preferring to be the primary engine driving his team's offense (Holiday and Middleton were comfortable playing without the ball around Antetokounmpo).
The buyout question had been a genuine one heading into Sunday’s deadline. Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Middleton was a candidate to be bought out, which would have made him a free agent and preserved his playoff eligibility for a contending team. At 34 years old and in the final year of a $33.3 million contract, the appeal of a championship chase — he won one in Milwaukee in 2021 — was an obvious pull. But the calculus was never straightforward. The Mavericks hold Middleton’s full Bird Rights, giving Dallas more flexibility than any other team to re-sign him this summer and the ability to facilitate a sign-and-trade to a team that could not otherwise afford him.
A buyout would have stripped that leverage from the equation. Continuing to rebuild his efficiency in a system that has suited him, entering free agency healthy and productive, was always the more financially sound path — even without a playoff run attached to it. The Mavericks were not pushing him toward the exit, and sources indicated Dallas was allowing Middleton to evaluate his options with full organizational support either way.
Head coach Jason Kidd made clear before Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder that the organization is glad he stayed. “That’s great,” Kidd said. “Looking at Khris as a vet, he’s already had some impact with us — on and off the floor. For him to be able to stay, it was great. We try not to play him 40 minutes a night, but his ability as a vet to score and to lead is something that’s needed. We’re happy he stayed.”
Mike Curtis: Jason Kidd on Khris Middleton choosing to stay with #Mavs for rest of the season: "It's great. Khris is a vet. He's already had some impact with us, on & off the floor. For him to be able to stay, it's great. We'll try not to play him 40 minutes a night, but his ability as a vet to score & to lead is something that's needed in that locker room so we're happy he stayed."
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Marc Stein: Khris Middleton intends to finish the season with the Mavericks, sources close to the process tell @TheSteinLine. Middleton told me earlier this week that he would keep his options open into the weekend ahead of Sunday's buyout deadline to be playoff-eligible with a new team.
Marc Stein: Tyus Jones will be playoff-eligible with his next team because his release is taking place before Sunday’s buyout deadline. And the Mavericks will now have an open roster spot to work with no matter what Khris Middleton decides — stay or go — before Sunday’s 11:59 PM buzzer.
Ron Harrod Jr.: Jason Kidd responded to @TheSteinLine report about Khris Middleton being a buyout candidate: “That’s up to Khris. We support whatever decision he makes if he’s going to stay or if he’s gonna get bought out. But I think he’s gotta make that decision here pretty quick.”