Grading the 11 biggest headline-grabbing day 1 NBA Free Agency signings

Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

The contract: 3 years, $102 million

After a relatively quiet first few weeks of the offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks announced a three-year contract with Khris Middleton. Inking for a little more than $30 million per season, this is a good move for the Bucks. When Middleton is healthy, Milwaukee is a different team. He’s a player that unlocks this team’s true potential and has been a great fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. He also takes a ton of offensive pressure off of Jrue Holiday.

For all the noise surrounding the Bucks possibly retooling the roster, there’s no question that Middleton needed to be part of the roster that stuck. The hope moving forward is that he can shake away from the injury bug that he’s battled for the past couple of seasons. Ultimately, there’s a reason to believe that’s why the Bucks have floundered in the two postseasons after winning their NBA Championship in 2021.

This is a move that makes sense for all sides. Middleton’s new contract now lines up pretty closely with Giannis’. Quite frankly, those are two players that go hand in hand. If this team can remain healthy, there’s no reason to believe why they won’t be back in the title picture next season.

Grade: A