A familiar face is returning to Washington via a convoluted path.
Former All-Star Khris Middleton is re-joining the Wizards from the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade deal involving six teams, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Per the report, Middleton agreed to a three-year, $17.6 million contract that facilitated the deal and will join the Wizards alongside a 2033 second-round pick from the Mavericks.
The Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies are also involved in the deal that will send D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 second-round pick, a 2032 second-round pick swap and a 2033 second-round pick from Washington to Memphis, according to the report.
The latest part of the deal will facilitate several previously agreed-upon trades among the six teams. Included are:
-Detroit’s deal to send Caris LeVert and two second-round picks to Milwaukee for Gary Harris and Taurean Prince in a trade that created cap space and a trade exception for Detroit
-Detroit’s deal to send Marcus Sasser to Dallas
-Detroit’s deal to send Isaiah Stewart to Memphis and a protected 2028 second-round pick to the Clippers
-The Clippers’ deal to send John Collins to Detroit via sign-and-trade and cash to Milwaukee
-Memphis’ deal to send Santi Aldama and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic to Dallas and three second-round picks to Detroit
-Dallas’ deal to send AJ Johnson and a 2030 conditional first-round pick and 2029 second-round pick to Memphis
This is all according to Charania.
Per Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Clippers also get a $16 million trade exception out of the deal.
Can Middleton help revamped Wizards to postseason?
Middleton, 34, was a three-time All-Star and key player for the 2020-21 Bucks that won the NBA championship behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks traded Middleton to the Wizards ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Khris Middleton rejoins the Wizards after playing 48 games in Washington across parts of the last two NBA seasons.
(Michael Hickey via Getty Images)
Middleton made 48 starts for Washington across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons before the Wizards traded him to the Mavericks as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to Washington ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.
Middleton averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.7 steals while shooting 42% from the field and 36% from 3 in 63 games with the Wizards and Mavericks last season.
Now Middleton will join Davis in Washington as part of a Wizards core that’s undergone a dramatic facelift over the last two seasons. The Wizards will feature Davis, Trae Young, Kyshawn George, 2024 lottery pick Alex Sarr, 2025 lottery pick Tre Johnson and 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
The Wizards will look to Middleton as a veteran presence on a revamped roster that it hopes can compete for the postseason following a five-year drought.
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