The Dallas Mavericks’ season is all but over. With just eight games remaining, fans are already turning their attention to the offseason. At the top of Dallas\u2019 to-do list: taking care of their own free agents. And one move, in particular, is quickly becoming obvious \u2014 re-signing Khris Middleton.<\/p>\n
With free agency approaching, the Mavericks are reportedly eager to retain the veteran<\/a>. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, \u201cDallas\u2019 eventual hire will undoubtedly hear of the organizational fondness already building for newly acquired Khris Middleton.\u201d<\/p>\n Khris Middleton\u2019s underrated impact in Dallas<\/p>\n Middleton has quietly been a bright spot for the Mavericks since arriving ahead of the trade deadline. Initially seen as little more than a salary-matching piece in a deal that sent Anthony Davis\u2019 max contract to the Washington Wizards, the 34-year-old has quickly proven he\u2019s much more than that.<\/p>\n In 21 games with Dallas, Middleton has averaged 11.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n Although his counting stats aren\u2019t eye-popping, the former All-Star is producing<\/a> in just 22.3 minutes per game and has emerged as one of the Mavericks\u2019 most reliable late-game options. Middleton leads the team in clutch points per game and ranks third in both clutch field goal attempts and efficiency. He\u2019s also one of the few players on the roster who can consistently create his own mid-range look off the dribble.<\/p>\n A Middleton-Mavericks reunion makes perfect sense<\/p>\n At a glance, the Mavericks\u2019 growing fondness for Middleton may seem a bit unusual. Dallas currently holds one of the league\u2019s worst records, and with an average age of 26.3, sits squarely in the middle of the NBA. With Cooper Flagg set to take on even more responsibility, the franchise appears to be trending upward and likely prioritizing youth moving forward.<\/p>\n Yet, the Mavericks still lack reliable late-game shotmakers, and counting on a teenage lottery pick to solve that immediately is far from a sure thing. That reality makes finding a player of Middleton\u2019s caliber at a comparable price extremely unlikely.<\/p>\n Dallas wouldn\u2019t need to commit to a sizable long-term deal to retain Middleton. A one-year contract at or near the veteran\u2019s minimum would be entirely reasonable. And even at 35 by the start of next season, he would still provide value both on and off the court<\/a> for a burgeoning team.<\/p>\n