Bucks' Middleton declines $40M option to become free agent

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton declined his $40-million player option for next season.

Middleton will now become a free agent eligible to discuss a new deal with all 30 teams. However, a Milwaukee reunion is still possible.

"Khris is core to who we are and really all the success we’ve had," general manager Jon Horst said. “Our goal is always to sustain our success and continue to compete and (have) a chance to win and be in position to win year in and year out. We hope to have him back."

Middleton had until midnight ET to opt in or out of the final year of his contract.

The two-time All-Star is coming off one of his worst NBA campaigns. Various injuries limited Middleton to just 33 appearances during the 2022-23 season. He averaged 15.1 points on a career-low 43.6% shooting to go along with 4.9 assists and 4.2 boards per contest.

However, the 31-year-old fared better during the Bucks' short-lived postseason, averaging 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting 40.6% from deep in five games during their first-round series against the Miami Heat.

Following the end of the Bucks' season, Middleton underwent a planned minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remedy the ailment that hampered him during the campaign, sources told Shams Charania and Eric Nehm of The Athletic. He's reportedly expected to be cleared for basketball activities by July.