Overview
- Khris Middleton has been given control by the Mavericks to either stay for the season or pursue a buyout, with a March 1 waiver required for playoff eligibility.
- Middleton left Tuesday’s game against the Nets with a right shoulder stinger and did not return, introducing fresh uncertainty into any immediate market.
- Acquired in the Anthony Davis trade, he has played four games for Dallas, including a 25-point performance in a win at Indiana, and is averaging 16.0 points in limited minutes.
- Salary-cap restrictions bar over‑apron teams from signing players waived off contracts above the mid-level, and a buyout would also cost Middleton his Bird rights.
- League chatter, including Marc Stein’s on-air musing, has linked Detroit as a potential destination if a buyout occurs, though such interest remains speculative.