Milwaukee Bucks: Did They Make A Mistake Trading Brandon Knight?

The Financial Side

This summer, the only player who will be dealing with free agency on the entire Milwaukee Bucks roster is Khris Middleton. Middleton, like Brandon Knight, will be a restricted free agent. Both players have played their way into nice new contracts. By shipping away Knight, the Bucks wanted to avoid the $10-15 million per season the Phoenix Suns will have to pay up to keep him.

It’s kind of funny the Bucks traded Knight to avoid overpaying him so that they could wind up overpaying Middleton, who might be one of the most underrated free agents on the market. Because Middleton is a restricted free agent, the Bucks can match any offer if they so choose.

Middleton’s not the kind of player you typically think of when the term “max player.” But with the salary cap set to explode two seasons from now, the players now have the upper hand. By posting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage, this 3-and-D player will earn whatever contract he gets, most likely a major contract extension with Milwaukee.

Knight is an excellent three-point shooter, making nearly 41 percent of his three-pointers with the Bucks but so is Middleton, who has shot 40+ percent in each of the last two seasons. The Bucks have simply put their faith in a pass-first point guard who can get the ball to their sharp-shooting wing.

Knight, Middleton and MCW are all 23 years old, but Carter-Williams is still on his rookie contract. Given his potential and the tutelage of Jason Kidd, he can develop into something special, much like Middleton has spent the whole season doing. Paying up to keep two restricted free agents would have been impossible for Milwaukee, and this way, Kidd has a new project to mold in his own likeness.

Next: The Future