Tap here to view theScore's NBA Offseason Tracker, which includes the latest transactions and rumors.
Khris Middleton said he wanted to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, and it appears his wish has been granted.
He'll be paid handsomely for doing so, as the Bucks and the 23-year-old restricted free agent have reached an agreement on a mammoth five-year, $70-million deal, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press. The deal has a player option in the final season, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe.
ESPN's Marc Stein had reported early Wednesday that the two sides were "closing in" on a deal.
Retaining the restricted free agent Khris Middleton and signing a big man in free agency were Milwaukee's top two offseason priorities
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2015
That's a nice payday for a player taken in the second round three years ago, as Middleton has grown from a fringe rotation player into something nearing a star. The Bucks were always expected to reach a quick agreement, but $14 million annually is a shade higher than originally anticipated.
In a rising-cap environment and with upside remaining for the 23-year-old, it's arguably a fair price and one Middleton probably could have procured had he hit the open market. Getting a quick deal done frees the Bucks to turn their attention to fortifying the core and sends a clear signal of their belief in Middleton.
Middleton's big payday from Bucks was coming after team traded Brandon Knight to Phoenix at February deadline. Team made its choice then.
— cfgardner (@cf_gardner) July 1, 2015
The Texas A&M product, who made less than $1 million last season, enjoyed a career year in 2014-15, averaging 13.4 points, 2.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 79 games, making him a down-ballot candidate for Most Improved Player.
Middleton stands as an appropriate avatar for the current Bucks roster: somewhat unheralded, incredibly long, and positionally amorphous. His basic description could belong to a handful of his teammates. But he's taken greater strides than any of them and may have the most upside, particularly on the defensive end, where advanced metrics grew very fond of him in 2014-15.
Stein had more on what's next for Milwaukee:
Sources say the Bucks, once they secure Middleton's commitment, will shift gears toward their long-planned pursuit for a top center. Team officials were scheduled to have a face-to-face sitdown after 2 a.m. Wednesday in Washington D.C., with Detroit Pistons unrestricted free agent Greg Monroe.
